Soccer legend Xavi plays his last match in Tehran amid Barcelona return rumors
Xavi Hernandez bid an emotional farewell to his dazzling playing career with a defeat after his side Al Sadd suffered a 2-0 defeat at Persepolis in their final group game of AFC Champions League on Monday.
The 39-year-old midfield genius, who helped Spain win the World Cup in 2010 besides helping Barcelona win two UEFA Champions League titles and eight La Liga titles, was cheered by poster-carrying fans at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran where already-eliminated Persepolis put on an improved display to register only their second win in six matches.
Xavi was also honored by the Persepolis management, but Al Sadd's second defeat in a row, following their 4-1 thrashing by domestic rivals Al Duhail in last week's Amir Cup final in Doha, must have left him with mixed feelings.
Xavi receives a gift from Persepolis president during the AFC Champions League group match between Persepolis and Al Sadd at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
Al Sadd had already qualified for the last 16 of the Asian tournament and they had hoped a victory on Monday would be an apt send-off for their captain who has been with them for four years.
But although the Spaniard produced some signature passes and watched a free-kick late in the game sail agonizingly over the goalpost, it was hosts Persepolis who made the most of the chances that came their way.
A return to Barca?
As his playing career draws to an end, Xavi is heavily linked with a return to Barcelona, but the midfielder insisted that he has not considered the coaching job at the Camp Nou right now.
A Persepolis supporter carries a poster of Xavi during the AFC Champions League group D match between Persepolis and Al Sadd at the Azadi Stadiumon, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
"The idea is to start my managerial career here in Qatar where there is less pressure so that I can test the water and gain some valuable experience, before eventually returning to Europe and hopefully Barcelona," Xavi told Spanish news agency EFE.
"As things stand, I do not consider myself to be ready to become a manager at the top level. I need to walk before I can run."
"Obviously my ultimate goal is to end up becoming the Barcelona coach, but I need to learn the ropes before I can start thinking about that."
"Football can be played in many different ways, but I have always been a huge fan of Barcelona's approach."
"The way in which they control the game and keep the ball is the style that I have grown up with and it is the style that I will use when I am a coach," he added.
(With inputs from agencies)