Xavi Hernandez - Spain's Playmaking Genius
Winner of several notable awards for club and country, Spanish playmaking midfielder Xavi Hernandez is one of the most accomplished midfielders of the modern game of football. With impeccable control of the ball and an uncanny ability to pick out the killer pass, Xavi is an integral part of any team he plays for.
When Spain overcame their mediocre form in international tournaments by winning the 2008 UEFA European Championships, UEFA named Xavi the player of the tournament.
Consistently impressive in big games, Xavi was also named the man of the match when Barcelona defeated Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final.
Xavi was born in Barcelona and rose through FC Barcelona’s acclaimed youth teams to make his professional debut at 18 years of age, in 1998. Since then, the Catalonian son has scored 35 goals in 352 appearances for the club.
But the most striking feature of Xavi’s game is not his goal tally, but his ability to direct the play of the team from deep in midfield. Much like an American football quarterback, Xavi drops deep to get the time he likes to have on the ball.
Once on it, he is difficult to dispossess. Even when the opposition presses high to constrain his operating space – a tactic employed by many to stifle Barcelona’s creativity - Xavi nestles his way through, by dribbling or interchanging passes with his teammates and releasing the ball to his forwards at exactly the right time.
Whether initiating quick plays through the opposition defence or landing an inch-perfect 35-yard pass, Xavi’s presence seems to guarantee scoring opportunities. Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s outstanding Argentine forward, owes a countless number of his goals to Xavi’s passing creativity.
During the 2008 European Championships, the near-telepathic understanding between Xavi and fellow Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta became apparent to the world, and the following season saw the pair perform outstandingly for Barcelona.
In May 2009, Xavi assisted four goals in Barcelona’s resounding 6-2 victory over arch rivals Real Madrid. Only weeks later, he crossed for Messi in the Champions League final, letting the short Argentine forward head home Barcelona’s second goal.
By the end of that season, Xavi could add the Copa del Rey, Champions League and La Liga trophies to his collection. His hometown club, FC Barcelona, the team he had been directing from midfield for several seasons, reigned supreme in world football.
With the team a little more unsettled, only the La Liga trophy was defended in the 2009/2010 season. But their impressive form against Real Madrid continued.
In April this year, Xavi produced another great performance at Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. This time around, he hit two crucial assists, a lofted chip for Messi and a quick ground ball for Pedro. Barcelona defeated Madrid 2-0.
In this year's World Cup tournament, Spain went from unconvincing in the opening game against Switzerland, which they lost, to beating Germany in familiar style in the semi-finals.
Aware that Xavi is the hub of the team, Spain’s opponents have sought to push their midfielders higher when defending in order to give the 30 year-old Xavi less space to control the flow of the game.
With his teammates equally comfortable in possession, Spain has managed to keep the ball and keep up the game-winning movement and passing that their players are known for.
As the most of their plays begin with Xavi, fans are always hoping for another big game performance from the talented footballer.
Xavi is not done pursuing silverware this season. On Sunday, his Spanish side faced the Netherlands in the pivotal moment of international football, the World Cup final. Spain was victorious and the Netherlands were finally sent home. A dream for Xavi has finally become a reality.
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