Andres Iniesta sets retirement date as Barcelona icon to hang up boots for good

Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Andres Iniesta (Image: Getty)

Andres Iniesta, the Barcelona and Spain legend, is set to announce his retirement at the age of 40 next week. The chosen date for the official confirmation, October 8, reflects the shirt number he wore throughout his illustrious career.

Iniesta, one of football's greatest midfielders, has been without a club since his contract with Emirates Club of the UAE expired in June.

Despite expressing a desire to continue playing and an interest in coaching, Iniesta hinted at his impending retirement decision in an Instagram post. His remarkable career began with Barcelona's B team in 2000.

He made over 400 appearances for Barcelona's first team, winning 29 trophies and playing a pivotal role in Pep Guardiola's side, widely regarded as the best ever.

Iniesta's trophy haul includes nine La Liga winners' medals and four UEFA Champions League titles from his time at Camp Nou.

ROME - MAY 27: Andres Iniesta of Barcelona celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final match between Barcelona and Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27, 2009 in Rome, Italy. Barcelona won the match 2-0. (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images) (Image: Bob Thomas/Getty Images)

However, his crowning glory was scoring the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final for Spain. He also helped La Roja secure the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.

After leaving Barcelona in 2018, he played for Vissel Kobe in Japan before moving to the UAE for what turned out to be his final stint.

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Guardiola once praised Iniesta for "his mastery of the relationship between space and time."

Spain's Andres Iniesta (R) celebrates his goal during the 2010 World Cup final soccer match against Netherlands at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg July 11, 2010. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE) (Image: REUTERS)

In a 2016 book, Manchester City's boss reminisced about his first encounter with a young player while he was still at Barca.

"Tito Vilanova defined him very well," Guardiola recalled. "Tito used to say: 'Andres doesn't run, he glides. He's likean ice hockey player, only without skates on. Sssswishhh, sssswishhh, sssswishhhh ...' That description is evocative, very graphic, and I think it's an accurate one.

"He moves as if he was skating, observing everything that's happening around him.

"Then, suddenly, he changes direction with that smoothness he possesses. Yes, that's it, Andres doesn't run, he glides.

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"Sometimes in life, it's the first impressions that count and my initial impression of Andres was when my brother Pere, who was working for Nike then, introduced me to Iniesta.

"I was still playing for Barcelona myself and he said: 'Pep, you've got to come and see this lad'.

"It was before the final of the Nike Cup. I remember hastily changing after training and rushing there, sprinting to the stadium.

"And yes, I saw how talented he was. I told myself: 'This lad will play for Barcelona, for sure ... he's going to make it'.

"I told myself that, and I told Pere that too."

Andres Iniesta sets retirement date as Barcelona icon to hang up boots for good

Andres Iniesta sets retirement date as Barcelona icon to hang up boots for good

Andres Iniesta sets retirement date as Barcelona icon to hang up boots for good

Andres Iniesta sets retirement date as Barcelona icon to hang up boots for good

Andres Iniesta sets retirement date as Barcelona icon to hang up boots for good