By Daily Sports on April 19, 2020

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has revealed that his old team-mate Xavi has advised him to become a coach when he calls time on his illustrious playing career.

Iniesta rose through Barca’s famed academy ranks as a youngster, before graduating to the first team in 2002.

He went on to amass 454 appearances for the club, scoring 44 goals, while picking up 32 trophies in total.

The former Spain international helped Barca win nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, forging a superb partnership with Xavi in the centre of the pitch.

The two men were vital members of Pep Guardiola's squad between 2008 and 2012, which is widely regarded as one of the finest in football history.

Xavi brought the curtain down on his Camp Nou journey in 2015, and decided to take up a new challenge in the Middle East with Al Sadd, where he spent the next four years as a player.

The 40-year-old then transitioned into a coaching role with the Qatar-based club, with a view to gaining enough experience to take up the top job at Barca at some point in the future.

Iniesta, who is currently plying his trade in Japan with Vissel Kobe, says Xavi has already tried to persuade him to follow a similar path.

“I still talk a lot with him, also about being a coach. And obviously he has encouraged me to test it out and see if I like it,” the 35-year-old told Marca.

“He is delighted that he is going to be a coach. For those of us who like football and think about it, in the end, it is a situation that pleases and seduces me in some way.

“I am glad for him in this new stage in his career, perhaps I may be in a similar situation in the future.”

Iniesta went on to insist that while getting a coaching licence is not at the top of his agenda at present, he can see himself moving into a management role at some point.

He said: “The idea is still there but until I stop playing football it will be difficult for me to try to get my licence. Meanwhile, one tries to continue learning and to experience situations that one can use to learn.

“As for reference points, I have a small idea of the game that I want [my team to play], which is the one that I have always played at the same club.

“But we'll see. There is still plenty of time for me to sit on a bench. When I am a coach, I will definitely see different things than what I see today as a player.

“Let’s see what is going to happen. For the moment we have to wait.”

The current season has been suspended in Japan due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused huge disruptions to the sporting calendar across the globe. (Marca)

•PHOTO: Xavi and Iniesta 

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 19, 2020

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