Player Information
Full name: Xavier Hernández Creus
Date of birth: January 25, 1980
Birthplace: Terrassa, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
EU passport: Yes
Height: 175 cms
Weight: 68 kgs
Date of birth: January 25, 1980
Birthplace: Terrassa, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
EU passport: Yes
Height: 175 cms
Weight: 68 kgs
Club: FC Barcelona
Position: Defensive Midfielder [C]
Squad Number: 6
Contract expires: June 2010
Previous clubs: (youth) Barcelona
International debut: November 2000, v Netherlands
International Caps: 63
International Goals: 5
World Cups: Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006
Position: Defensive Midfielder [C]
Squad Number: 6
Contract expires: June 2010
Previous clubs: (youth) Barcelona
International debut: November 2000, v Netherlands
International Caps: 63
International Goals: 5
World Cups: Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006
AwardsFIFA U-20 World Cup (1999)
UEFA European Football Championship (2008)
UEFA Champions League (2006)
Spanish La Liga (1999, 2005, 2006)
Spanish Super Cup (2005, 2006)
UEFA European Football Championship Player of the Tournament (2008)
UEFA European Football Championship (2008)
UEFA Champions League (2006)
Spanish La Liga (1999, 2005, 2006)
Spanish Super Cup (2005, 2006)
UEFA European Football Championship Player of the Tournament (2008)
Biography1980
Born January 25 in Terrassa, Spain.
1997
September: Member of the Spanish team that reached the FIFA U-17 World Championship semifinals in Egypt.
1999
April: Member of the Spanish team that won the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria.
2000
September: Member of the Spanish team that won the Silver Medal at the Sydney Olympic Games.
2005
December: Tears ligaments in his right knee during training. Xavi got hurt in a clash with Brazilian midfielder Edmilson.
2006
March: Resumes training almost 4 months after injury.
April: Returns to action after suffering a serious knee injury when he came on as a second-half substitute during Barcelona 1-0 Primera Liga win at home to Cadiz.
May: Helps FC Barcelona to win its second straight Spanish league title and 18th overall.
June 14: In a game in which a number of Spanish players stood out, Xavi was named Budweiser Man of the Match for being the primary creative figure in Spain's 4-0 victory over Ukraine.
August 20: Helped FC Barcelona to won their first trophy of the new season as they defeated Espanyol 3-0 in the second leg of the Super Cup in Camp Nou.
December 17: Played in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2006 as Barcelona is defeated by Brazil's Internacional with a late-goal in Yokohama.
2008
April 29: Member of the FC Barcelona team that lost the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Manchester United, 1-2 aggregate score.
June 29: Won the UEFA Euro 2008 with Spain after defeating Germany 1-0 in the final. Xavi displayed all of his classy playmaking skills and ran the show in the middle.
June 30: Named the Castrol Player of the Tournament for UEFA EURO 2008 after his stirring displays helped his country to the title. His ability to dictate the pace of the game from midfield brought him to the attention of the UEFA Technical Team who decide upon the Castrol Player of the Tournament, taking into account votes from the public.
October 27: Included in the FIFPro World XI Team of the Year.
FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile
Xavi Hernandez is a product of the FC Barcelona youth system, moulded in the image of his boyhood hero, Josep Guardiola, his predecessor in the Barcelona engine room. Xavi joined the club at the age of 11, making swift and impressive progress through their junior teams.
In the summer of 1998, the Spanish Supercup was the setting for Xavi’s first appearance in the senior side, marking his debut with a goal on an unforgettable day for the young star. The following season, Xavi was called into service following an injury to team captain Guardiola and he never looked back.
As the years have gone by, Xavi’s importance to the Barcelona cause has continued to grow, having remained an automatic choice in the side despite a host of coaching changes at the Camp Nou. His outstanding performances at the heart of the Azulgrana midfield saw him make his debut for the senior national team in 2000, although the gifted young Spaniard had already amassed a wealth of international experience. Xavi was a member of the golden generation that triumphed at the FIFA World Youth Championship Nigeria 1999, and a year later helped his side to a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Prodigious talent
Xavi is a magnificent reader of the game and an excellent ball-winner. Besides which, the visionary playmaker is a creative genius and is outstanding going forward, being able to dictate the pace of the game almost at will. Xavi has an uncanny knack for picking the right moment to pierce the opposition defence with a perfectly-weighted through ball.
Hard work and skill earned him a place in the Spanish squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, although he played just 124 minutes in the Far East. Having featured in almost every qualifying game in the lead-up to UEFA Euro 2004, then coach Inaki Saez decided against using him at the tournament on Portuguese soil. Despite these disappointments, Xavi has become a key figure for Spain since the appointment of veteran coach Luis Aragones. The stocky midfielder broke his national team scoring duck in a friendly against China, and is becoming a more familiar face at set-pieces thanks to his formidable long-range shooting ability.
Unfortunately for the Barcelona star, a serious knee injury had seen his involvement at Germany 2006 cast into doubt. Nevertheless, his determination and hard-work in recovery have kept his FIFA World Cup dream alive, with the Spanish fans desperate to see him back in action and pulling the strings in midfield.
© 2001-2006 FIFA, All Rights Reserved
UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile
An FC Barcelona stalwart, Xavi Hernández filled the midfield anchorman role left by Josep Guardiola at his club and proves an integral squad member for Spain.
National team
Having played under Iñaki Sáez in the side that won the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, Xavi's senior Spain debut came in November 2000 against the Netherlands, and he later won his way into the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad. He played three times in Korea/Japan, but did not make it off the bench at UEFA EURO 2004™. However, he won a regular starting place in 2006 World Cup qualifying, and scored his first goal for Spain in a 3-0 friendly win against China.
Club
A product of the Barcelona academy, Xavi's debut in the first team was in the 1998 Spanish Super Cup against RCD Mallorca. Barcelona went on to win the league that season, with Xavi making 17 appearances and scoring a vital goal against Real Valladolid. He was soon a regular, and in 2001/02 played 14 times in their run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. One of the great moments of his career came in April 2004 as he scored the late winner that secured Barcelona's first victory at Real Madrid CF since November 1997, the Catalan side later claiming second place behind Valencia CF.
2004/05: Once again Xavi was the catalyst in many of the team's domestic and European wins. He missed just two league matches on the way to the title and scored three goals including a stunning, swerving volley to hand Barça victory against Albacete Balompié on 11 December. He was rewarded at the end of the season with a three-year contract extension until June 2010.
Did you know?
Xavi has turned down a number of big-money offers in order to stay with his beloved Barça.
©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.
Born January 25 in Terrassa, Spain.
1997
September: Member of the Spanish team that reached the FIFA U-17 World Championship semifinals in Egypt.
1999
April: Member of the Spanish team that won the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria.
2000
September: Member of the Spanish team that won the Silver Medal at the Sydney Olympic Games.
2005
December: Tears ligaments in his right knee during training. Xavi got hurt in a clash with Brazilian midfielder Edmilson.
2006
March: Resumes training almost 4 months after injury.
April: Returns to action after suffering a serious knee injury when he came on as a second-half substitute during Barcelona 1-0 Primera Liga win at home to Cadiz.
May: Helps FC Barcelona to win its second straight Spanish league title and 18th overall.
June 14: In a game in which a number of Spanish players stood out, Xavi was named Budweiser Man of the Match for being the primary creative figure in Spain's 4-0 victory over Ukraine.
August 20: Helped FC Barcelona to won their first trophy of the new season as they defeated Espanyol 3-0 in the second leg of the Super Cup in Camp Nou.
December 17: Played in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2006 as Barcelona is defeated by Brazil's Internacional with a late-goal in Yokohama.
2008
April 29: Member of the FC Barcelona team that lost the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Manchester United, 1-2 aggregate score.
June 29: Won the UEFA Euro 2008 with Spain after defeating Germany 1-0 in the final. Xavi displayed all of his classy playmaking skills and ran the show in the middle.
June 30: Named the Castrol Player of the Tournament for UEFA EURO 2008 after his stirring displays helped his country to the title. His ability to dictate the pace of the game from midfield brought him to the attention of the UEFA Technical Team who decide upon the Castrol Player of the Tournament, taking into account votes from the public.
October 27: Included in the FIFPro World XI Team of the Year.
FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile
Xavi Hernandez is a product of the FC Barcelona youth system, moulded in the image of his boyhood hero, Josep Guardiola, his predecessor in the Barcelona engine room. Xavi joined the club at the age of 11, making swift and impressive progress through their junior teams.
In the summer of 1998, the Spanish Supercup was the setting for Xavi’s first appearance in the senior side, marking his debut with a goal on an unforgettable day for the young star. The following season, Xavi was called into service following an injury to team captain Guardiola and he never looked back.
As the years have gone by, Xavi’s importance to the Barcelona cause has continued to grow, having remained an automatic choice in the side despite a host of coaching changes at the Camp Nou. His outstanding performances at the heart of the Azulgrana midfield saw him make his debut for the senior national team in 2000, although the gifted young Spaniard had already amassed a wealth of international experience. Xavi was a member of the golden generation that triumphed at the FIFA World Youth Championship Nigeria 1999, and a year later helped his side to a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Prodigious talent
Xavi is a magnificent reader of the game and an excellent ball-winner. Besides which, the visionary playmaker is a creative genius and is outstanding going forward, being able to dictate the pace of the game almost at will. Xavi has an uncanny knack for picking the right moment to pierce the opposition defence with a perfectly-weighted through ball.
Hard work and skill earned him a place in the Spanish squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, although he played just 124 minutes in the Far East. Having featured in almost every qualifying game in the lead-up to UEFA Euro 2004, then coach Inaki Saez decided against using him at the tournament on Portuguese soil. Despite these disappointments, Xavi has become a key figure for Spain since the appointment of veteran coach Luis Aragones. The stocky midfielder broke his national team scoring duck in a friendly against China, and is becoming a more familiar face at set-pieces thanks to his formidable long-range shooting ability.
Unfortunately for the Barcelona star, a serious knee injury had seen his involvement at Germany 2006 cast into doubt. Nevertheless, his determination and hard-work in recovery have kept his FIFA World Cup dream alive, with the Spanish fans desperate to see him back in action and pulling the strings in midfield.
© 2001-2006 FIFA, All Rights Reserved
UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile
An FC Barcelona stalwart, Xavi Hernández filled the midfield anchorman role left by Josep Guardiola at his club and proves an integral squad member for Spain.
National team
Having played under Iñaki Sáez in the side that won the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, Xavi's senior Spain debut came in November 2000 against the Netherlands, and he later won his way into the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad. He played three times in Korea/Japan, but did not make it off the bench at UEFA EURO 2004™. However, he won a regular starting place in 2006 World Cup qualifying, and scored his first goal for Spain in a 3-0 friendly win against China.
Club
A product of the Barcelona academy, Xavi's debut in the first team was in the 1998 Spanish Super Cup against RCD Mallorca. Barcelona went on to win the league that season, with Xavi making 17 appearances and scoring a vital goal against Real Valladolid. He was soon a regular, and in 2001/02 played 14 times in their run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. One of the great moments of his career came in April 2004 as he scored the late winner that secured Barcelona's first victory at Real Madrid CF since November 1997, the Catalan side later claiming second place behind Valencia CF.
2004/05: Once again Xavi was the catalyst in many of the team's domestic and European wins. He missed just two league matches on the way to the title and scored three goals including a stunning, swerving volley to hand Barça victory against Albacete Balompié on 11 December. He was rewarded at the end of the season with a three-year contract extension until June 2010.
Did you know?
Xavi has turned down a number of big-money offers in order to stay with his beloved Barça.
©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment