Xavi Hernandez

Xavi Hernandez, born Xavier Hernández Creus, is a Spanish former professional footballer and football manager from Terrassa, Catalonia.

Xavi Hernandez, born Xavier Hernández Creus, is a Spanish former professional footballer and football manager from Terrassa, Catalonia. He was widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world and became a key figure in FC Barcelona’s possession-based style of play and Spain’s most successful national team era.

Early life and development

Xavi was born in Terrassa in 1980 and joined Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, at a young age. He progressed through the club’s development system before debuting for the senior team in 1998.

Playing career

He spent most of his career at FC Barcelona, where he became one of the club’s most important midfielders and won numerous domestic and European titles. He later played for Al Sadd in Qatar before retiring as a player.

Style of play

Xavi was associated with Barcelona’s possession-oriented passing game, often described as tiki-taka. Sources describe him as one of the best midfielders ever because of his technique, vision, and ability to dictate play.

International career

He was a long-time member of the Spain national team and featured in its most successful period. His international honours included the 2010 FIFA World Cup and back-to-back UEFA European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Xavi moved into coaching. He later returned to Barcelona as head coach in 2021 and has also been associated with Al Sadd in a coaching or club role.