On Tuesday, Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez announced his retirement from the Spanish national team. His impressive career with the team ends with 133 caps and 13 goals, helping to lead La Roja to a 2010 World Cup title and two European championships.
"I have decided to leave the national team. I think my time there has finished," the 34-year-old told reporters. "We have managed to achieve many successes in the past six or eight years and now I am just another fan of the Spain team."
While he initially contemplated retirement from league play with Barcelona as well after a disappointing 2013-2014 season, Xavi has decided to play out the remaining two years on his deal with the club. It appears that Barcelona's new coach Luis Enrique and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta played a major role in this shift in thinking as, in Xavi's words, they "convinced me I can still be competitive and useful to the club."
This comes after some serious soul-searching as Xavi's 2013-2014 season ended on a down note. "I found myself on the bench for the last game of the league season, which had not happened to me in recent years in the national team either, and I decided to tell the club that the best thing would be to say that it is over now," Xavi said.
But, after talks with club management, Xavi seems hopeful that his influence on the team over the next several years can go beyond just the skills he brings to the pitch.
"I will give everything to carry on being important and useful to Barcelona. I hope people understand my decision...I don't know what the next season will bring but I have a good feeling."
