Andrés Iniesta

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Andrés Iniesta
Personal information
Full name	Andrés Iniesta Luján
Date of birth	May 11, 1984 (age 22)
Place of birth	Fuentealbilla, Albacete, Spain
Height	169 cm
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	FC Barcelona
Number	24
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2002-	FC Barcelona	110 (7)
National team2
2006-	Spain	11 (2)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 March 2007. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Andrés Iniesta Luján (born 11 May 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Albacete) is a Spanish attacking midfielder currently playing for FC Barcelona. He is generally deployed by coach Frank Rijkaard in a central midfield role.

Contents 1 Club career 2 National team 3 Skills and playing style 4 Trophies 4.1 FC Barcelona 4.2 Spain 5 External links

[edit] Club career

At the age of 12, Iniesta was spotted by Barça scouts at his local club Albacete Balompié. He was switftly signed and worked his way up the club ranks. Louis van Gaal handed him his debut on 29 October 2002, a UEFA Champions League game against Club Brugge KV. He appeared eleven times in the league in 2003-04, mostly as a deputy for Camp Nou favourite Ronaldinho, as Barça sealed second place, scoring once.

In the 2004-05 season Iniesta successfully secured a permanent slot in the first team and figured in 37 of 38 league games - more than any other player. He displayed an unselfish attitude by regularly aiding strikers Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho but was unfortunate in front of goal - denied by the woodwork on several occasions, he found the net just twice.

Iniesta's improvement as a player continued in the 2005-06 and because of the absence of Xavi due to injury, he was given regular starts in midfield. The increased playing time offered to him at the highest level gave him the opportunity to blossom into a superb midfielder. His contribution to the team was praised by Coach Frank Rijkaard. His callup to the Spanish squad for the World Cup has come as no surprise to football pundits.

On the 22nd of August, 2006 Andres lifted the prestigious Joan Gamper Trophy as the captain of the team after defeating German side Bayern München 4-0.

[edit] National team

Iniesta burst on to the international scene in 2001, helping Spain win the UEFA European Under-16 Championship, and was in the squad that claimed the UEFA European Under-19 Championship the following year. In 2003 he formed part of the Spanish side that reached the FIFA World Youth Championship final in the United Arab Emirates, and was named in the FIFA All-Star Team.

He has captained the Spain U21s side on several occasions.

He was called up to represent Spain at the World Cup 2006 on May 15 2006. Iniesta won his first cap for Spain when he was brought on at half-time in a friendly against Russia on the 27th of May, 2006.

He scored his first goal for Spain in a friendly against England on February 7 2007. Spain took the lead on 63 minutes when Iniesta thumped home a right-footed shot in off the crossbar from the right-side of the box after Villa's cross was flicked into his path.

[edit] Skills and playing style

Iniesta is a versatile player who can play in a variety of midfield roles. He is usually used in a central midfield role - sometimes as a creative midfielder and sometimes as a holding midfielder. He has also played on the right hand side of midfield on occasion. During the match between Barcelona and PFC Levski Sofia in the UEFA Champions League 2006/07, Iniesta was playing the role of a striker instead of midfield and he scored twice in the two games that Barcelona played against them.

He has good skill on the ball, great passing and movement all rounded off with a sound footballing brain. His superb passing has unhinged many resolute defences - he played a big part in the first Barca goal against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final of 2006. He also has the ability to win the ball, and is an extremely tidy player who works hard for the team.

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard describes Iniesta's passing ability as "like watching somebody hand out sweets".^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Trophies

[edit] FC Barcelona

• 2006-07 Supercopa de España
• 2005-06 UEFA Champions League
• 2005-06 La Liga
• 2005-06 Supercopa de España
• 2004-05 La Liga

[edit] Spain

• UEFA Under-16 Championship winner
• UEFA Under-19 Championship winner
• Finalist with the Spanish team to the FIFA World Youth Championship

[edit] External links

• Profile on the official club website

	Spain squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Casillas | 2 Salgado | 3 Pernía | 4 Marchena | 5 Puyol | 6 Albelda | 7 Raúl | 8 Xavi | 9 Torres | 10 Reyes | 11 García | 12 López | 13 Iniesta | 14 Alonso | 15 Ramos | 16 Senna | 17 Joaquín | 18 Fàbregas | 19 Cañizares | 20 Juanito | 21 David Villa | 22 Pablo | 23 Reina | Coach: Aragonés

FC Barcelona - Current Squad
1 Valdés | 2 Belletti | 3 Motta | 4 Márquez | 5 Puyol | 6 Xavi | 7 Guðjohnsen | 8 Giuly | 9 Eto'o | 10 Ronaldinho | 11 Zambrotta | 12 van Bronckhorst | 15 Edmílson | 16 Sylvinho | 18 Ezquerro | 19 Messi | 20 Deco | 21 Thuram | 22 Saviola | 23 Oleguer | 24 Iniesta | 25 Jorquera | 26 Jesús | 31 dos Santos | Coach: Rijkaard