Biography And Football Career Of Andres Iniesta Lujan – One Of The Greatest Midfielders Of All Times
Humility, Resolution, Ardour, these sum up Andres Iniesta Lujan. Born in the Albacete district of Spain in a well to-do family and growing up in a place with great socialism, Andres was rich more by the heart than by wealth. A kid of a very small stature, Iniesta developed a love for the ball at his feet at age of 10. Just like it happens in case of all great personalities, the small kid caught the eye of Barcelona scouts at the age of 12 while playing in a local tournament. The famed La Masia recruited kids aged 13 or 14 normally but they saw something in this 12 year old that convinced them about this kid. While Iniesta might have cried rivers when he was forced to leave family at a small age, he cried even when he had to leave his biggest family last year.
In the Nike Cup of 1999, Andres Iniesta led the U-15 Barcelona team to victory. The player of the tournament award and a last minute winner by the Mozart of Albacete, caught the eyes of people in and around Barcelona. With eyes that anyone would fall in love with, Iniesta received the winner’s trophy from Pep Guardiola himself. The famed conversation between Xavi and Pep just glorifies the talent of Iniesta. “You will retire me, but he will retire us all”- Pep Guardiola to Xavi Hernandez.
Rising through the ranks, Iniesta busted through to the first team and has been there till the end of last season. Iniesta witnessed the departure of club legends Ronaldinho, Puyol, Xavi, Valdes, Mascherano but he was there like a pinnacle, holding the team together. The vivid exchanges of passes from the little man remained the same in the years that passed. Iniesta’s involvement in the game remained the same over the years. From the pass to Leo Messi in Wembley which defeated Van Der Sar, to the one which helped Leo break his Chelsea jinx, Iniesta has been a central figure in almost every success of his teammates.
Iniesta had that magic that Sir Alex Ferguson labelled as a bigger threat than Lionel Messi. Age was nothing else than mere figure for Andres Iniesta. He aged like fine wine, getting better with each passing day. Chelsea found it the hard way out last season. A misplaced pass from Andreas Christensen and the resolute Iniesta beat a 5 years younger Azpilicueta to the ball for pace. The move by Iniesta earned the crucial away goal for Barcelona in the tie.
It is something that is mysterious with the players of such stature. They always find themselves at the pick of things. How else can you explain the final minute winner by a young U-15 captain and, then the same kid repeating that feat 10 years later at a much bigger stage? There is no explanation for magic, it is uncanny and it is quintessential for it to be like that. The Nike Cup in 1999, a kid scores a final minute winner. The 2009 Champions League Semi-finals, Chelsea are two minutes from reaching the Champions League Finals. The night had already seen some brilliant pieces of football, some ecstatic reactions from Chelsea fans and some very controversial decisions. While Stamford Bridge was getting ready to celebrate, although a lot had gone through them, one moment turned it all. Lionel Messi was on the wrong side of the wing, the ball on his weaker right foot, the defence swarming the little genius. But yet, completely unnoticed, Iniesta snuck into scoring zone and blasted one, with a single touch. In the commentator’s words, “The Chelsea fans covered their eyes in horror”. Iniesta took off his neon yellow his euphoria and the whole of Barcelona cried in joy. These are a few select moments that people notice off Iniesta.
Neymar might be the hero of Barcelona’s Remontada but Iniesta’s contribution in the game, the own goal which was created by Iniesta’s backheel is as crucial as that huge free-kick by Neymar. Iniesta doesn’t play to get noticed and that works in his favour. Even in Barcelona’s biggest match in the El Clasico, without Lionel Messi, Iniesta lead by example to the others as Barcelona beat Madrid 4-0. In that game a moment of sheer brilliance came from Andres. A pass to Neymar and a move into shooting space, a neat backheel return by Neymar and Iniesta slotted it past Keylor Navas. Even after destroying their team inside out, the Real Madrid ultras stood up and appreciated the magic of Iniesta, which they enjoyed thoroughly. Despite him playing against their team, people only appreciate Iniesta, they don’t hope he underperforms, they just hope he played for them.
Even fate has been amazing to Andres. He wanted to give that tribute to Dani Jarque. He painted the T-shirt, completely unaware that he would score the most important goal in Spanish history. Yet, fate gave him his chance, even though he had to wait for 116 minutes for the moment. That is with the great players, they etch their own fate. Iniesta stayed with Barcelona from the age of 12. He saw it all, won it all. Decided crucial games, provided amazing assists, took the captain’s armband and lead from the front. While there have been players who have been compared to this little magician, no one comes close even at his age.
While many would put Luka Modric and Toni Kroos over Andres Iniesta, just remember a few things when you draw comparisons. Iniesta has earned applause from each and every crowd that he has played in front of, no one hates him, and no one doubts his abilities or questions his achievements. Iniesta has never displayed a performance as horrific as Kroos and Modric did against CSKA Moskva, ever. Losing a match is another thing, disgrace of a performance is another.
No one except for a few like Xavi, Pirlo and Paul Scholes deserve to be named along with Iniesta. There is no next Iniesta, not ever. Andres signed a lifetime contract last year, but he left Barcelona when he thought was the best time to leave. He left as a hero, he left while Messi still had the years left in him to lead an overhauled squad. He left so that he doesn’t become a liability.
All alone for one last time: Andres Iniest
aIniesta was never a liability, even in his last season. He offered Barcelona everything he could. And when the time came, he sat on the Camp Nou pitch at 2 AM, alone. Enjoying the aura of the stadium, the chill of the night, the feel of the air and the smell of the pitch. When you are alone, you could recollect every tad bit of memory that is associated with you. Iniesta just decided to salvage the memories, knowing he won’t be taking the pitch ever again. But magic doesn’t subside ever. Just watching Iniesta’s goal first goal for Vissel Kobe gives goosebumps to his followers. He is as good as ever. It has been 22 years since he first arrived at La Masia. Where time has flown, only god knows? But if someone offers to turn the clock back, it will be received with both hands by Cules, just to witness that magic, one more time.
A silent guy who never lost his cool, yet got the nickname the Don. Don Andres Iniesta, the greatest midfielder that Europe will ever see. The best that ever has been and probably the best that ever will be.
