Fading force Xavi bows out with place in history secure

(AFP) - Xavi Hernandez's position as one of the most-decorated and
important players in the history of Spanish football cannot be
questioned.

Alongside the likes of Andres Iniesta and Iker Casillas he turned
around the label of the Spanish national side from perennial
underachievers to champions, triumphing at the 2010 World Cup and the
last two European Championships.

"He has won my affection as a person, while for his football there are
very few who cannot say he is a great player," said Spain coach
Vicente del Bosque of the 34-year-old, who on Tuesday announced his
retirement from international football.

"It is impossible to know who is the best player in the history of the
Spanish national team, but that Xavi is one of the best is not in
doubt. In the past there were some extraordinary players, but I cannot
say who is better than others."

However, Xavi only appeared once during Spain's doomed defence of the
World Cup in Brazil in June and his performance in the 5-1 thrashing
at the hands of the Netherlands served as evidence that his time at
the top is now in the past.

"It was the toughest defeat of my career," he admitted afterwards.
Xavi was also questioned for his performances early on at Euro 2012,
but Del Bosque remained faithful to his loyal servant and was rewarded
with his best display of the tournament as Spain retained their title
in style with a 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the final in Kiev.

Yet, two years on, he played no part as La Roja bowed out of the
competition with a 2-0 defeat to Chile at the Maracana in Rio de
Janeiro, and he did not feature in the 3-0 victory over Australia that
wrapped up their campaign.

After so many years of relentless high-pressure matches for Barcelona
and Spain, his tiring legs seemed to have finally run out of steam.

"It has been a wonderful, fantastic period for me. It has been an
honour," he said on deciding to step down after winning 133 caps, the
first of which came against the Netherlands in November 2000.

- One last challenge -

Xavi, who first emerged in the Spain teams that won the World Youth
Championship in 1999 and then took Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000,
said that last season was "perhaps the worst of my career" and he had
hinted in the spring that he would continue playing away from
Barcelona.

However, he is now set to stay on at the Camp Nou, where his friend
and old team-mate Luis Enrique has taken charge and is hoping to
revive the club's fortunes after a season in which they failed to win
any major trophies.

Barca's record all-time appearance holder with a CV that includes 25
trophies at club and international level was linked with a move to
either the United States or Qatar before being persuaded by the new
coach to stay put.

"I will give everything to carry on being important and useful to
Barcelona," said Xavi, the local boy who still has two years to run on
his contract at the Camp Nou.

Helping restore the Catalans to the summit of the game at home and in
Europe will be the last big challenge of a career that has already
delivered so much.