What happened to Andres Iniesta after Barcelona?

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When Andres Iniesta announced he was leaving Barcelona in 2018 many thought he would announce his retirement from the game. But no, now approaching his 40th birthday he is still playing professional football.
But where? What happened to Iniesta after Barcelona?
Written by Seb Stafford-Bloor. Illustrated by Alice Devine.
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#Barcelona #FCB #LaLiga

[@R.MadridMessi-Cr7Barca]

He left at the right time, deciding on his own and giving his best until the end. Comparing him to Busquets and Pique, who face regular criticism for a few bad games towards the end of their career, Iniesta's decision to leave was commendable if he felt it was the right time. Whether it was a good decision or not, he has Barca's utmost respect..

[@fotrj]

Your pfp is cursed 💀

[@fotrj]

One thing I'd like to add is that Busquets got criticized a lot when he fumbled but he was the oiling that kept the machine running. Barcelona this season has a great squad but is struggling hard with CDM.

[@kix_501st]

that’s true. especially pique.

[@Rosco-P.Coldchain]

Real Madrid Messy 😂 what next..? 😂

[@2De3]

Y Modric

[@njkel.8714]

I always described Iniesta as Messi without the goals. Humble and magician player. One of a kind. Creativty out of this world

[@limbodor6110]

That dribbling against Bayern to assist Neymar. Truly a magician.

[@AmanKumar-gq2qy]

Messi is not humble

[@alejoluqman3618]

​@@AmanKumar-gq2qybecause you've interacted with him before?

[@RonaldoNazario382]

​@@AmanKumar-gq2qyalways have to ruin a nice moment dont you

[@jp_manns]

​@@RonaldoNazario382 exactly

[@designzip5890]

I was lucky enough to watch Iniesta many times at Kobe. He definitely was a different class from the other players and his touch and movement were unbelievable. However, Kobe often lost when Iniesta was in the team. He didn't have the engine to run box-to-box, press successfully or play the full 90 minutes. He was ultimately used as a sub for most of his his final season but even then he never warmed up with the other subs during half-time. He then decided to leave Kobe, mid-season, with Kobe challenging for the title. I really feel he should have stayed until the end of season at least, accept his role as substitute player and help the team win the league but no he decided to leave.

[@quantran4824]

he did said he will leave if he couldn't have a meaningful contribute to the team, in which he did, & it probably for the best.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Marina Bay Sands USD SGD

[@matthewthompson5655]

I honestly think that him leaving was a blessing in disguise. Like you said, they often lost when he was in the team. Him going was a weight off their shoulders I feel

[@designzip5890]

@@matthewthompson5655 You're right! Although I am very glad I got to watch him play at least.

[@matthewthompson5655]

@@designzip5890 every time I went to watch them last season he wasn’t in the match day squad 🤣🙄

[@lukag4456]

He played such a pivotal role in both Barca's and Spain's success

[@larryachiya2475]

Don Andres Iniesta. The "illusionist". One of the most refined midfielders I've watched play.

[@JS-te2vj]

At the time Iniesta came to the J League, there was a lot of buzz. As a Jubilo Iwata supporter, I remember how surreal it felt to see someone who'd won La Liga a year before, at our humble Yamaha Stadium. We kind of doubted we'd really see him. But yes, he was there. And while his stamina seemed inadequate, the side change passes, the dribbles, his movement off the ball were really on another level. Players like Celtic's Furuhashi, all learned their craft playing with him. While I can see why he was becoming a burden for Kobe, as a league, I think we should be thankful he came.

[@saphirmwamba1196]

The fact that Vissel Kobe won the J1 League after Iniesta left is pretty bittersweet

[@quantran4824]

technically he still has the medal so...

[@ar-rafeimtiaaz5682]

Iniesta stats for Barcelona 674 games 57 goals 136 assists Iniesta stats for Vissel Kobe 134 games 26 games 25 assists Despite all of that he was still good in Vissel Kobe

[@caseydouglas412]

Ineista is a nomad,I always felt outside of all the players from that great era of Barcelona,he would’ve been the person to wonder and play wherever he wanted to instead of being influenced by anyone,ineista is his own man and I can respect him for that

[@edwardcamp3376]

This was excellent. Miura Kazuyoshi would make a great subject for one of these too. Still out there playing at 56. Very impressive.

[@-ingar-]

Would love a video like this in Morten Gamst Pedersen, he was still playing this season at the age of 42, and havent announced any retirement plans as of yet

[@kix_501st]

what a legend 🔥 the epitome of everything a midfielder would want in ball control

[@armchairecon]

His was the first shirt I ever bought, he is the best midfielder I have ever seen in my lifetime, I genuinely miss watching him play, he was astonishing.

[@rohit.thestructuralengineer]

Even being a real madrid fan , whenever listen the name iniesta i can just smile and say one of greatest footballer

[@vb2388]

Won World Cup, 2 Euros and 4 UCLs….I would’ve gone to Japan for money at age 34 as well 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Q0Q1]

Quality Content form tifo as always

[@MrSebinism]

iniesta a true legend ❤

[@pur3gre3k254]

Ahhhhh the Don, people often forget that sometimes back then Messi was a massive threat but slept on Iniesta's artistry there were games where he was an even bigger threat and his stats and trophies were testament to that, but his visual and football was second to none...

[@growsoul1334]

Should be mentioned also that Iniesta´s favorite all time player Michael Laudrup, inspired him to take the move to Japan. Just like Laudrup did ;)

[@SKa-tt9nm]

If cruyff selected laudrup for the 1994 UCL final, Barca beats AC Milan. Platini said in the early 90s that he was the best player in the world. I personally think that was a slight exaggeration, but still - what a compliment!

[@toji2254]

Long story short: He rode off into the sunset and is now living his best life

[@giodhuha6771]

Simple. He's getting older and just enjoying what he has left.

[@soyUsernameWasTaken]

iniesta & xavi vs. modric & kross on the midfield. man we were BLESSED to even witnessed those battles.

[@vijayant_rai]

He’s my favourite player of all time. Thank you for this video.

[@davorbajlovic3136]

Goes to show how amazing Modric is, he's still top level... while others can't hack it in Europe.

[@H33333]

Iniesta now plays in the league that my hometown team is at. Such talented player, it’s a shame Emirates Club are being relegated this season.

[@nathanngumi8467]

Iniesta and Xavi in midfield were the duo of the 2010 World Cup that Spain won! Their Barcelona magic was brought to the national team and it bore fruit. When past one's prime legacy becomes most important.

[@willg1088]

Villa carried spain go rewatch

[@shahzadirani]

While Xavi and Iniesta were crucial in midfield, it was also Casillas Ramos and Alonso (Real Madrid) and David Villa (Valencia player at the time) who played equally crucial roles in Spain winning the World Cup.

[@aarnejaroma]

i mean, hes essentially retired but good for him for doing what he loves.

[@LAM10169]

Sergi Samper was Iniesta's team mate at barcelona as well not only David Villa

[@LaceyFilm]

Vissel Kobe won the J League only months after he left!

[@m-vendor]

He is true athlete and the role model for future generations. Hope he moves to inter miami❤

[@KareemPilot]

More of these kinds of videos, if I may beg you … superb 🏆

[@carterhunt548]

Andres was one of the best Spanish players I know. I wonder how he’s doing in the emirates?

[@Keamogetswe_1]

Iniesta was magician in midfield for barca and Spain. Legend in the football even he is older good for vissel kobe

[@taskdon769]

He can play another 16 years to just to match Kazuyoshi Miura's current career, which is still going.

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

I'm a Dutch Canadian, but even considering the 2010 WC final, Iniesta is still one of my favorite players of all time. So under appreciated.

[@whosbling]

Watched him play against my home club in our stadium. We won 1-0 😂🎉 first game of the season against Al Wasl 💛💛

[@crooner4848]

Like anyone playing under Guardiola, he probably had to go into rehab after he left as well as finding a specialist for capillary implants.

[@urstube6901]

My favourite player of all time Paints a master piece, when his on the ball

[@abhishekalfred3452]

One of the greatest player of All time .

[@fernandoalves921]

It would be interesting if tifo made a video about the short rise and fall of Botafogo in Brazil league

[@Xtreme_Gunner]

Can you do one for Santi Cazorla as well?

[@johnr909]

I loved that he became a J League player. I like it when pros take on new adventures and go outside of their comfort zone a bit.

[@aimanazrie8944]

same, i liked it when seeing a player like that moved to the middle east

[@FootballAddictedd]

One of the best if not the best in his position

[@InteristaS5]

My favorite midfielder of all time. So many memories watching Iniesta at Barca 🥺🥺

[@oliverhughes610]

He would, ironically, end up playing against Barcelona for Kobe, albeit in a friendly.

[@tdyerwestfield]

Certainly the most enjoyable player to watch in the last 20 years imo.

[@philjonesfootball4696]

The love of football is unrivaled 😢

[@GeorgeWBushDid911]

Don Andrés. Always class

[@XyrianHD]

It annoys me so much that the Ballon d'Or is so focussed on goals. So many great midfielders that will never get it. Iniesta, Kroos and De Bruyne being chief amongst them for me.

[@Dotsetc]

Bruh the game is literally about scoring goals. Its not for nothing that even when we're kids, the best players play upfront, next in line midfield, then defenders and the 'tallest or worst dude' is keeper. Even later this still holds to be true. The most important players are virtually always the creators/scorers of goals. Someone that only scores and someone that only creates is not enough. You gotta be extraordinary in your skill or extremely skilled at both compared to others.

[@SKa-tt9nm]

@@Dotsetc the best players play up front? No. If you look at the greatest players of all time, yes Messi and Ronaldo played upfront. But Pele was an attacking mid for a portion of his career. Maradona was a no. 10 his entire career. Cruyff spent his best years in midfield. Beckenbauer was a midfielder until he got older and then moved to defense. Platini was a midfielder. Zidane was a midfielder. Gullit was a midfielder. You get the idea - a massive portion of all time greats were midfielders. Your second contention - that you have to be extraordinary at both creating and scoring to be truly great is also wrong. First, it entirely discounts players who do neither of those things but were all time greats regardless. Paolo Maldini, Baresi, yashin, beckenbauer etc. would like to have a word with you. Second, while yes, Messi and Ronaldo are near the top of the lists for both assists and goals, they are by far the exception. You know who didn’t score a lot of goals (at least relative to Messi and Ronaldo)? Maradona. But nobody in their right mind would doubt that he was the best player in the world every year between 1984 and 1990. You know who else didn’t score a lot of goals? Gullit. He scored a single goal in the entire euro’88 and was the best player every time he took the pitch. You know who didn’t provide a lot of assists? Muller. And R9. And Puskas. And van Basten. But all were all time greats.

[@Dotsetc]

@@SKa-tt9nm Pele was not an 'attacking mid' at all. He was a shadow striker in a 4 forward offense. Maradonna played as number 10 and a number 10 in Argentina is viewed historically as a shadow striker. That's why virtually all players who worn the 10 were shadow strikers basically except Riquelme. Cruyff also didnt spent his 'best years' in midfield. He was the center striker of not just Ajax but also The Netherlands and Barcelona but played as a false 9 dropping off. Beckenbauer virtually also always played as libero. My man it says a lot that most players you mentioned that were 'not strikers' were borderline strikers and offensive midfielders of which IMO there are far more players to mention. You're acting like I'm dismissing players of previous era's compared to this era, but I dont. I dont even view Messi and Ronaldo as the greatest players either. I'm just saying ultimately to WIN you have to score hence the offensive players who create instead of reacting are just the most important players. For example why is Beckenbauer as defender so high in the all time list? Because he scored a load of important goals and has a load of important assists. No the entire game isnt based around getting goals and assists and every player does their part and are important in their own way, but ultimately strikers just have the hardest jib and anyone that played football, knows its the hardest to score a goal.

[@Dotsetc]

@@SKa-tt9nm I also said players should be exceptional at either scoring, or creating goals or be extremely skilled in both my man.

[@XyrianHD]

@@Dotsetc Of course the game is about scoring goals in the end. Of course our heros were the ones that made the score sheet. Yet we simply didn't understand the value of these insane midfielders at the time. If you truey believe they are any less intergral in scoring goals than the strikers themselves you still do not understand the game today. We grew up in a time when the two best players to ever touch the ball did score a lot too. Messi and Ronaldo got their Ballon d'Ors for a reason and they deserve them too. But there are no players like them at the moment. We are throwing the award around to the top scorer of the top leagues instead (or just Messi again in the MLS which is ridiculous).

[@ayowale9275]

YOO U GUYS @TIFO SHOULD MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT FOOTBALLERS WHO HAVE BEEN RULED OUT BECAUSE OF ACL INJURIES DIS SEASON AND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING

[@subarnsen876]

Do a video on zidanes real madrid 2017

[@zisolo4283]

One of the GOATs of the game.

[@Artificial_Intelligence_AI]

The guy in the picture is andres iniesta or Christopher Froome? 🤔

[@foreignmweezzpuscle8651]

Early season this year, Vissel Kobe was losing around bottom of the league table.. I ignored J-League few months it's a hard league to predict.. I'm shocked VK won JL.. V interesting league full of bottom team beating top teams..

[@Reggi_Sample]

We will NEVER forget that WC winning goal

[@amrdahab4343]

Hello Guys great work but at 05:32 the club name is: Ajman not Azman

[@andypitkin9051]

He'd probably make a great coach.

[@Mythsolev]

my goat🙌❤️

[@blueblueread]

the smoothest footballer i've seen

[@paochongloi596]

Tbh In J- League He was still in the top 5 or 10 in the highest paid footballer in the world. Which is ridiculous considering how little Japanese yen is compared to pound when the survey came.

[@jatinvikram5333]

I think invests would make a sick manager

[@soso-V12]

No word on his wine company (the specific reason he chose Japan) ? Shame.

[@mustardking20]

Joe Devine, how I miss you.

[@galastradoomed3718]

I got to see iniesta's emirates club debut he was different gravy

[@lemonloafy]

would've been really nice for him to retire at Kobe, he could've won the league with them and retired, but we can be glad all the same for his J League career

[@kelvinkamau4843]

Don Andres🎉🎉🎉

[@arashsaeed8709]

He played vs Barca tho in June in a friendly

[@kaiellis7479]

can we have a video on Rosenborgs fall this season? going from top 3 historical teams in norway to 9th place with 11 wins 6 draws and 13 losses

[@mezianeremila454]

He was teaching football in Japan and now in the UAE…

[@hoya1178]

0:08 What recency bs this? He is not "arguably the best player to not win the Ballon D'or", There are so many other players that were far more deserving. Buffon, Totti, Neuer, Henry, Maldini, Michael Laudrup, Neymar, Xavi, Gerrard, Casillas, Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Lewandowski, Ramos, Puskas. There is also players like Maradona, Pele and Zico that never could get it because of the rules at the time.

[@dryice1361]

You say recency bias and then name more recent players 🤓. You missed the part where he said "is arguably...". Iniesta does make a far better case for himself than most of the players you have mentioned, they never had a season where they were even battling for the ballon d'or except Lewandowski, Xavi and Henry.

[@abdulmunim3771]

He is better than most of the names you've mentioned

[@ftr9451]

It's Inieeeeeestaaaaaaaaa. And the Chelsea fans cover their eyes in horror❤❤❤

[@larryachiya2475]

The day Chelsea were robbed

[@fotrj]

@@larryachiya2475 The day Chelsea got instant karma 🤣

[@markp5651]

For me, him and modric are the best ever. Although I lean towards modric being the best ever.

[@kelvinmoombe4358]

Have you done a documentary on how good Zidane was ?

[@MacrobianNomad]

5:31 it’s Ajman not Azman lool

[@harryhansard3787]

Could you make a video about why so many Brazilian players bleach their hair? As a sign of unity presumably but i wonder where it started. Probably just a short

[@NeroPiroman]

It would be poetic if he goes to Miami and retires with his longtime barcalona playmates

[@vishaldeka5298]

He did what Messi is doing now. Just enjoy doing what you love, away from the noise.

[@TheStrongmansteve]

Iniesta loves football. I imagine he will be like Pires and play masters football into his 50s.

[@adityakshirsagar6059]

please make on david villa

[@asr432]

Почему его нет в fc24 он должен быть с рейтингом 95 Барселона-Иньеста Иньеста-Барселона ❤Испания

[@culer]

I dont think i have ever seen this guy dispossessed. Im sure it happened but never caught it

[@theswenglishgam3r808]

U said it is almost six year since he left Barca. That is not true, we are approaching 4 years. 2020 and 2021 never happened

[@SaLvAdOriaN127]

Every Barca fan knows what he did after leaving. But this is a good video for those who don’t follow Barca.

[@supriyoacharjya19]

It's more like what happened to barcelona after Iniesta.

[@Lyralikesit]

Why not just quit while still on a good note??? Streching it all the way until oblivion... having been so incredibly good is just sad...

[@dryice1361]

There is a reason he left Barcelona at 34 and is playing in less competitive leagues.

[@AdmiralMakati]

It’s not Kobe as in the basketball player. Y’all totally butchered it 😂

[@dryice1361]

How is it pronounced?

[@shandyistheboss]

Only not understandable thing is why he now went to the Emirates

[@sorryminati4719]

Shame Kobe actually surmounted their best challenge for the title when Iniesta left

[@BallerinaPocketNews]

Though I Went Disappoinated Following Transfer To Emirates Club. I Prefer Not Hating Andres Iniesta But Giving Respect To Spanish Legend For Not Chosen Saudi Arabia In Favor of United Arab Emirates.

[@miguel261998]

4:44 actually he left kobe at the start of the season they won the league for the first time. He played 4 matches.

[@lepari9986]

So by the time they did, he was long gone.

[@lepari9986]

And he played for 95 minutes in total, he was on the field in four matches but very little.

[@United_Wings]

Oh wow

[@saviojardim1244]

Surely he is in serious debt to be still playing ffs. Or maybe he just loves the game, either way what a joy to watch he was👌

[@BioInASec]

Hey @tifo why don't you talk about why Manchester city is loosing these days , what happened with all those players they have and a great coach.

[@dryice1361]

Did you just start watching football? This is yearly routine for Pep and City. They always begin their season shaky and by January, become an unstoppable force. The only surprising thing this year is that they went unbeaten in the first 6 games. The reason is that Pep always experiments with his tactics at the beginning and new recruits also take their time to settle in (Haaland being an exception obviously). They are also missing KDB right now.

[@BioInASec]

Yeah makes sense , I'm just a frustrated and wondering what he is doing@@dryice1361

[@Taalsman]

So THATS where Paco Alcazer ended up!

[@BoereViking]

Did Vissel Kobe buy a couple of million of his wine as well?

[@prazman]

According to R9, Iniesta is the best Spanish player in history.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

He joined Elvis on their home planet

[@108u9]

Yes Drake: “Ko-bay” No Drake: “Ko-bee”

[@user-dv4rh2my1x]

If Iniesta couldnt fix his hairline, normal people have no hope.

[@drunkenhobo8020]

I really respect Iniesta for just going bald. None of this hair weave nonsense, he lost his hair and he owned it. Good on the lad.