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 Tokyo’s National Stadium, built for this year’s Olympic Games. The first goal scored in the new stadium was an own goal from unfortunate Antlers defender Tomoya Inukai in the 18th minute before Kobe striker Noriaki Fujimoto added a second 20 minutes later following some more poor defending. Wednesday’s win marks the first time in their history that Kobe have their hands on some silverware and vindicates the high wages forked out by owner Hiroshi Mikitani in recent years. Wednesday’s match also saw a last appearance for former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker David Villa, who will retire at the age of 37.

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History of this topic

Tottenham come from behind to beat Vissel Kobe 3-2 in first match of pre-season Japan tour... with Pedro Porro, Son Heung-min and Mikey Moore netting for Ange Postecoglou's side
5 months, 1 week ago

Tottenham come from behind to beat Vissel Kobe 3-2 in first match of pre-season Japan tour... with Pedro Porro, Son Heung-min and Mikey Moore netting for Ange Postecoglou's side

Daily Mail  

Tottenham came from behind to beat Vissel Kobe 3-2 in the first game of their pre-season tour of Japan. Tottenham came from behind to beat Vissel Kobe 3-2 in their pre-season tour of Japan Son Heung-min put Tottenham level short after half-time with a close-range finish Son Heung-min slotted the ball home from inside the box three minutes into the …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Japanese club Vissel Kobe Plans Crowdfunded Andres Iniesta Statue
2 years, 11 months ago

Japanese club Vissel Kobe Plans Crowdfunded Andres Iniesta Statue

News 18  

Japan’s richest football club Vissel Kobe want to build a bronze statue of World Cup-winning star player Andres Iniesta — and are launching a crowdfunding project to pay for it. Former Barcelona maestro Iniesta joined Kobe in 2018 in a deal worth a reported $30 million a year, and signed a two-year contract extension last spring. The club has asked …

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 …

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 …

AFC Champions League: Andres Iniesta sets up three goals in Vissel Kobe's victory over Johor Darul Tazim
4 years, 10 months ago

AFC Champions League: Andres Iniesta sets up three goals in Vissel Kobe's victory over Johor Darul Tazim

Firstpost  

Andres Iniesta set up three goals, all scored by Keijiro Ogawa, to lead Vissel Kobe to a 5-1 win over Malaysian champions Johor Darul Tazim on Wednesday in the Asian Champions League. Seoul: Andres Iniesta set up three goals, all scored by Keijiro Ogawa, to lead Vissel Kobe to a 5-1 win over Malaysian champions Johor Darul Tazim on Wednesday …

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 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 …

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 …

David Villa scores first J-League goal as Vissel Kobe beat Fernando Torres' Sagan Tosu
5 years, 10 months ago

David Villa scores first J-League goal as Vissel Kobe beat Fernando Torres' Sagan Tosu

Firstpost  

Before signing with Vissel Kobe, former Barcelona striker David Villa spent four seasons with New York City FC, scoring 80 goals in 124 MLS appearances Kobe: David Villa scored his first goal in Japan as Vissel Kobe beat Sagan Tosu 1-0 in the J-League on Saturday. Villa gave the hosts a 1-0 lead nine minutes after the break when he …

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