Iniesta: Barcelona and Spain's Midfield Maestro
El Anti-Galactico was Vital to Club and Country's Recent Successes
Jan 13, 2009
Iniesta was spotted at the age of 12 by Barcelona’s scouts. He initially started playing in a holding role in the midfield for their youth teams and Barca B but gradually switched into an attacking position.
Barcelona Career
He debuted for Barcelona in 2002-03 and by 2004-5, Iniesta had a permanent place in the Barca line up.
His supporting role, especially the accurate passing was evident right from the early days. Initially his finishing ability didn’t satisfy many. However by 2006-7, he had improved a lot and was a regular goal getter, netting nine goals for Barca that season.
His all-round play and consistency was certified by the distinguished Spanish football magazine Don Balón . They rated Iniesta fifth and fourth in 2006-7 and 2007-8 respectively in the Primera Division as per their annual rating system.
Iniesta suffered a leg injury in mid November 2008 and returned on January 5, 2009 as a substitute during the second half against Mallorca. The Camp Nou crowd gave him a warm welcome and Iniesta duly obliged them by scoring the crucial goal enabling Barcelona complete a comeback victory.
International Career
His international career graph is even more awesome.
Iniesta first wore the national colours in Spain’s victorious march during the UEFA European Under-16 Championship in 2001. The very next year, he was part of the Spanish squad which claimed the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. And in 2003, he played a stellar role in Spain’s march to the final of the FIFA World Youth Championship where he also achieved the distinction of being named in the FIFA all-star team. He has also captained the Spain Under-21.
Surprisingly his first senior call was for the biggest stage, the World Cup 2006. He debuted in a friendly prior to the competition.
Euro 2008
Iniesta has won the double of Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League with Barcelona but The Euro 2008 was his magnum opus. First he played a vital role to help Spain to qualify not only through his patent inch perfect passes but also scoring three vital goals.
In the Euro 2008 itself, Iniesta was the only Spanish player to start every game. Spain won the competition to end the long title drought thus shedding the tag of the 'perennial underachievers'. Iniesta was named Man of the Match in the semi final against Russia and was also included in the 23-man UEFA team of the tournament.
Sobriquets (El Anti-Galactico & nino de coro)
An excellent reader of the game, he is a real midfield marshal but Iniesta is also versatile. Barcelona have used him in a wider role on the right side. He is very professional and not the one for ostentatious displays. These attributes have earned him the title of El Anti-Galáctico by the press. The Barca fans call him niño de coro (the choir boy) because of his humility and youthful looks.
Iniesta has already achieved a lot but is still only 24 and the best of him is yet to come.
