Torres wants perfect finale with Iniesta and Villa
5 years, 6 months ago

Torres wants perfect finale with Iniesta and Villa

The Hindu  

Fernando Torres believes facing former Spain colleagues David Villa and Andres Iniesta will make for "the perfect finale" when he plays his last professional match in the J.League on August 23. Having announced his decision to retire from football and bring the curtain down on 18 trophy-laden years in the game, Torres explained his decision to make Sagan Tosu's clash with Vissel Kobe his last appearance. The 35-year-old striker shared Spain's Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup triumphs with Villa and Iniesta, both of whom chose to move to Japan in the last 14 months. READ | Retiring Spain star Torres eyes future coaching role Torres, who left Atletico Madrid for Sagan in July 2018, said the opportunity to end his career in the company of friends was too good to miss.

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History of this topic

Iniesta helps Barcelona win against Real Madrid one last time before bidding farewell to glittering career
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Iniesta helps Barcelona win against Real Madrid one last time before bidding farewell to glittering career

The Hindu  

Retiring Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta bid farewell to his playing career Sunday in an exhibition match between Barcelona and Real Madrid greats in Tokyo and will now look to go into coaching. “I think it was a great game for the Japanese fans,” said Iniesta, who played in Japan for five years after leaving Barcelona in 2018. “If they …

El Clasico of Legends: Xavi, Iniesta to play in Barcelona vs Real Madrid in Japan
1 month, 3 weeks ago

El Clasico of Legends: Xavi, Iniesta to play in Barcelona vs Real Madrid in Japan

The Hindu  

Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez will play for the first time since their retirement in a match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on December 15. Xavi and Iniesta, who helped Spain win its maiden FIFA World Cup in 2010, was veterans at the club level as well, helping the Blaugrana win the treble …

Lionel Messi pays emotional tribute to Andres Iniesta as Spaniard announces retirement - with forward sharing throwback snap from duo's iconic Barcelona days
3 months ago

Lionel Messi pays emotional tribute to Andres Iniesta as Spaniard announces retirement - with forward sharing throwback snap from duo's iconic Barcelona days

Daily Mail  

Messi is one of the famous faces who have given their best to the midfielder Iniesta confirmed his retirement on Tuesday after Messi had paid tribute Lionel Messi has paid tribute to former team-mate Andres Iniesta after the Spain and Barcelona legend edged closer to his retirement before the news was officially announced on Tuesday. Lionel Messi has paid an …

Andres Iniesta expected to confirm retirement after emotional social media post
3 months ago

Andres Iniesta expected to confirm retirement after emotional social media post

The Independent  

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Andres Iniesta broke down in tears in an …

Juan Mata Eyeing Silverware With Vissel Kobe Following J-League Switch
1 year, 4 months ago

Juan Mata Eyeing Silverware With Vissel Kobe Following J-League Switch

News 18  

Former Manchester United and Spain midfielder Juan Mata set his sights on winning the J-League title on Sunday after joining Andres Iniesta’s former Japanese club Vissel Kobe. I will try my best to try to win another league title,… pic.twitter.com/oqxPEqPB1m — Juan Mata García September 3, 2023 Iniesta left Kobe in July after five years, having joined from Barcelona in …

Andres Iniesta jumps on the Gulf bandwagon, ‘opens new page’ with Emirates FC
1 year, 4 months ago

Andres Iniesta jumps on the Gulf bandwagon, ‘opens new page’ with Emirates FC

Firstpost  

Iniesta is the latest star to join the exodus to the energy-rich Gulf where Saudi Arabia has been setting the pace with the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta on Wednesday became the latest marquee name to commit his career finale to the Gulf by signing …

FC Barcelona Legend, Andres Iniesta Set to Make Switch to UAE Club, Emirates FC
1 year, 5 months ago

FC Barcelona Legend, Andres Iniesta Set to Make Switch to UAE Club, Emirates FC

News 18  

FC Barcelona and Spanish legend, Andres Iniesta is set to make his next move to the Middle East. After making the switch to the Japanese club, Vissel Kobe, Iniesta is set to sign for the UAE club, Emirates FC which is based out of Ras-Al-Khaimah. The four-time Champions League, World Cup and Euros winner, Iniesta is set to sign for …

Andres Iniesta says farewell to Japanese soccer with rare start for Vissel Kobe
1 year, 6 months ago

Andres Iniesta says farewell to Japanese soccer with rare start for Vissel Kobe

Hindustan Times  

Andres Iniesta said goodbye to Japanese soccer on Saturday with his first league start of the season as title-chasing Vissel Kobe had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Consadole Sapporo. Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta controls the ball during the J-League football match between Vissel Kobe and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo The 39-year-old midfielder joined Kobe from Barcelona in …

Iniesta says farewell to Japanese football with rare start for Kobe
1 year, 6 months ago

Iniesta says farewell to Japanese football with rare start for Kobe

The Hindu  

Andres Iniesta said goodbye to Japanese football on Saturday with his first league start of the season as title-chasing Vissel Kobe had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Consadole Sapporo. A sell-out crowd of 30,000 at Noevir Stadium gave Iniesta an affectionate send-off, organising a tifo display which showed the player wearing Kobe’s No. 8 shirt and …

Spain Legend Andres Iniesta Plays Farewell Game for Vissel Kobe
1 year, 6 months ago

Spain Legend Andres Iniesta Plays Farewell Game for Vissel Kobe

News 18  

Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta played his last game for Japanese club Vissel Kobe on Saturday, as he prepares to continue his illustrious career elsewhere. Iniesta made over 600 appearances for Barcelona, winning the Champions League four times and claiming nine La Liga titles before joining Kobe in 2018. “Thank you Iniesta for playing for Vissel Kobe for many years,” …

Barcelona beats Kobe 2-0 in Iniesta send-off
1 year, 7 months ago

Barcelona beats Kobe 2-0 in Iniesta send-off

The Hindu  

Spanish champions Barcelona cruised past Andres Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe 2-0 in a friendly in Tokyo on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after completing their domestic season. Kobe went on to make a game of it, and Iniesta hit the side-netting before Koya Yuruki drew a fantastic double save out of Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena. Iniesta joined Vissel in 2018 after …

Andres Iniesta to Leave Japan's Vissel Kobe but Determined to Play on
1 year, 7 months ago

Andres Iniesta to Leave Japan's Vissel Kobe but Determined to Play on

News 18  

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta said Thursday he will make an early exit from Japanese side Vissel Kobe but intends to keep playing aged 39. The Spanish World Cup winner’s contract with Vissel runs until the end of the year but a tearful Iniesta said he will leave in July after seeing little action this season. That’s difficult for me to …

Iniesta backs Spain’s youngsters to deliver at World Cup in Qatar
2 years, 1 month ago

Iniesta backs Spain’s youngsters to deliver at World Cup in Qatar

The Hindu  

Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder Andres Iniesta said head coach Luis Enrique’s youthful squad has plenty of first-team experience at club level to deliver international success. Brazilians turn Sao Paulo streets yellow and green ahead of World Cup “They’re young, but they’re first-team players, important and with a lot of responsibility. Personally, I love this team and I love the group …

Barcelona and Spain legend Andres Iniesta opens up on his battle with depression
2 years, 2 months ago

Barcelona and Spain legend Andres Iniesta opens up on his battle with depression

Daily Mail  

Iniesta reveals that he lost his lust for life during his injury struggles in his career The midfielder struggled through a spell of injuries during the 2009/10 season Former Barcelona star Andreas Iniesta opened up on his battle with depression Former Barcelona star Andreas Iniesta has opened up on his brutal battle with depression during one stage of his illustrious …

Andres Iniesta reveals he would 'love' to return to Barcelona
2 years, 2 months ago

Andres Iniesta reveals he would 'love' to return to Barcelona

Daily Mail  

Former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta has admitted that he would 'love' a return to the club after finishing his contract with Japanese side Vissel Kobe. Iniesta and current Barcelona manager Xavi were widely considered as one of the best midfield pairings in history after they won everything at domestic and international levels with the LaLiga giants and Spain. Andres Iniesta …

Andres Iniesta's Vissel Kobe Fire Manager After Poor J-League Start
2 years, 9 months ago

Andres Iniesta's Vissel Kobe Fire Manager After Poor J-League Start

News 18  

Andres Iniesta’s Japanese team Vissel Kobe have fired manager Atsuhiro Miura after a seven-game winless start to the new J-League season. Miura led Vissel to a third-place finish in last season’s J-League and to the semi-finals of the 2020 AFC Champions League but he has failed to win a trophy for the big-spending club. “I’ve been involved in the big …

He's Staying! Andres Iniesta Extends Vissel Kobe Contract by Two Years
3 years, 7 months ago

He's Staying! Andres Iniesta Extends Vissel Kobe Contract by Two Years

News 18  

Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said on Tuesday he has extended his contract with Vissel Kobe by another two years and wants to keep working towards making the Japanese side the best in Asia. Spanish World Cup winner Iniesta, who also celebrated his 37th birthday on Tuesday, signed a three-year contract with Kobe in 2018 after leaving Barcelona, where he …

J-League: Andres Iniesta to stay with Japan's Vissel Kobe for two more years
3 years, 7 months ago

J-League: Andres Iniesta to stay with Japan's Vissel Kobe for two more years

Firstpost  

The former Barcelona midfield maestro joined Kobe in 2018 in a deal worth a reported $30 million a year and recently recovered from a serious thigh injury. Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta celebrated his 37th birthday on Tuesday by signing a contract extension that will keep him at J-League side Vissel Kobe for two more years. Iniesta’s debut at Kobe …

Facing Fours Months Out, Ex-Barcelona Star Andres Iniesta Vows to Play on after Surgery
4 years ago

Facing Fours Months Out, Ex-Barcelona Star Andres Iniesta Vows to Play on after Surgery

News 18  

Former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta has promised his glittering career won’t be cut short by the thigh injury that has left him facing four months on the sidelines. The World Cup-winning Spanish midfielder, 36, said he planned to be back for his Japanese club Vissel Kobe next season after undergoing surgery in Barcelona on a ruptured tendon. Iniesta clutched his …

Asian Champions League: Ex-Barcelona star and Vissel Kobe’s Andres Iniesta vows to play on after surgery
4 years ago

Asian Champions League: Ex-Barcelona star and Vissel Kobe’s Andres Iniesta vows to play on after surgery

Firstpost  

Iniesta joined Vissel Kobe in 2018 after making 442 appearances for Barcelona, where he was the midfield dynamo in some of the club’s greatest ever teams. The World Cup-winning Spanish midfielder, 36, said he planned to be back for his Japanese club Vissel Kobe next season after undergoing surgery in Barcelona on a ruptured tendon. Iniesta clutched his thigh and …

Andres Iniesta Turns Back Clock with Vissel Kobe in AFC Champions League
4 years, 1 month ago

Andres Iniesta Turns Back Clock with Vissel Kobe in AFC Champions League

News 18  

Andres Iniesta won the UEFA Champions League four times with Barcelona and now the 36-year-old Spaniard is winding back the clock with Vissel Kobe of Japan in the Asian equivalent. Kobe, making its first appearance in the AFC Champions League, faces Shanghai SIPG on Monday with a place in the last eight at stake. The 2010 World Cup winner recorded …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Barcelona great Andres Iniesta says saving human lives more important than football during COVID-19 crisis
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Barcelona great Andres Iniesta says saving human lives more important than football during COVID-19 crisis

Firstpost  

With Spain one of the country’s hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Barcelona great Andres Iniesta says he is finding it tough to watch events unfold in Europe from his new home in Japan. Tokyo: With Spain one of the country’s hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Barcelona great Andres Iniesta says he is finding it tough to watch events …

Andres Iniesta guides Vissel Kobe to Emperor Cup win
5 years ago

Andres Iniesta guides Vissel Kobe to Emperor Cup win

The Hindu  

Andres Iniesta captained Vissel Kobe to its first trophy with a 2-0 Emperor's Cup final win over Kashima Antlers as teammate David Villa retired. Vissel, formed in 1966 and moved to Kobe in 1995, has built a star-studded squad in a bid to end its wait for silverware, with former Barcelona stars Iniesta, Villa and Thomas Vermaelen featuring alongside Lukas …

Vissel Kobe's Spanish striker David Villa calls time on glittering career with Emperor's Cup title
5 years ago

Vissel Kobe's Spanish striker David Villa calls time on glittering career with Emperor's Cup title

Firstpost  

Wednesday’s Vissel Kobe win also saw a last appearance for former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker David Villa, who will retire at the age of 37 Tokyo: Vissel Kobe, led by World Cup winners Andres Iniesta and Lukas Podolski, beat Kashima Antlers 2-0 to win the Emperors Cup final on Wednesday, in the first football match to be played at …

Andres Iniesta in talks with Argentina club Estudiantes
5 years ago

Andres Iniesta in talks with Argentina club Estudiantes

The Hindu  

Estudiantes president Juan Sebastian Veron confirmed talks have taken place with Vissel Kobe captain Andres Iniesta over a switch to the Argentine club. Amid growing links to Estudiantes – where ex-Barca defender Gabriel Milito is head coach – after Mascherano arrived from Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortuna, Veron insisted negotiations are yet to take place. READ | Iniesta …

Spain and Barcelona great David Villa retiring at end of year
5 years, 1 month ago

Spain and Barcelona great David Villa retiring at end of year

The Hindu  

Spain and Barcelona great David Villa has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the year. "Thank you for an outstanding career, @Guaje7Villa," Vissel Kobe wrote on Twitter, the club confirming on its website that Villa would retire at season's end. After scoring more than 100 goals for Valencia, Villa joined Barcelona for three seasons – …

Fernando Torres bows out in Sagan Tosu's 6-1 defeat, Sergio Ramos, Steven Gerrard pay tribute
5 years, 4 months ago

Fernando Torres bows out in Sagan Tosu's 6-1 defeat, Sergio Ramos, Steven Gerrard pay tribute

The Hindu  

Fernando Torres did not get a fitting finale to his football career as Sagan Tosu was routed 6-1 on Friday by a Vissel Kobe side led by his former Spain colleagues Andres Iniesta and David Villa. Torres played for the final time in the J.League clash in Tosu, but his struggling side was dismantled - with friend and former team-mate …

Football news: Fernando Torres suffers humiliating 6-1 defeat in his last-ever game
5 years, 4 months ago

Football news: Fernando Torres suffers humiliating 6-1 defeat in his last-ever game

Daily Mail  

Fernando Torres' final game as a professional footballer ended in humiliating fashion as his Sagan Tosu side conceded six goals to Andres Iniesta's Vissel Kobe. Torres, who announced his retirement from the game earlier this summer, played the full 90 minutes of the J-League encounter on Friday but Tosu were completely outmatched at the Best Amenity Stadium. Fernando Torres is …

Andres Iniesta writes to Fernando Torres before final match: 'I miss you already'
5 years, 4 months ago

Andres Iniesta writes to Fernando Torres before final match: 'I miss you already'

The Hindu  

Andres Iniesta penned an emotional letter to Fernando Torres as the two prepared to face one another a final time in the Sagan Tosu striker's last professional match. Iniesta wrote a lengthy letter to Torres before Friday's game, in which the playmaker netted a penalty before going off injured as Vissel surged into a 3-0 half-time lead, published in El …

Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta says he will relish the 'honour' of facing former club Barcelona in friendly clash
5 years, 5 months ago

Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta says he will relish the 'honour' of facing former club Barcelona in friendly clash

Firstpost  

World Cup-winning Iniesta, who lifted 32 major trophies with Barcelona, signed for Kobe last May in a historic J-League deal worth a reported $30 million a year. Kobe: Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is looking forward to taking on his former teammates when his Vissel Kobe meets Barcelona this weekend for a friendly, saying on Friday the face-off will be “an …

Retiring Spain star Torres eyes future coaching role
5 years, 6 months ago

Retiring Spain star Torres eyes future coaching role

The Hindu  

Spanish World Cup winner Fernando Torres said Sunday his body could no longer cope with the physical demands of football after announcing his retirement from the game. “I have a high demand of myself - I always want to be honest and perform at the level I think I should,” said Torres, who scored Spain’s winning goal in the 2008 …

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