Xavi

Football player infobox
playername = Xavi


fullname = Xavier Hernández Creus
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|1|25|df=yes
cityofbirth = Terrassa, Catalonia
countryofbirth = Spain
height = height|m=1.70
currentclub = FC Barcelona
clubnumber = 6
position = Central Midfielder/Defensive Midfielder
youthyears = 1991–1997
youthclubs = FC Barcelona Youth
years = 1997–1999
1998–
clubs = FC Barcelona B
FC Barcelona
caps(goals) = 061 0(2)
283 (26)
nationalyears = 2000–
nationalteam = Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 065 0(8)
pcupdate = May 14 2008
ntupdate = 20 August 2008 (UTC)

Xavier Hernández Creus (born January 25 1980, Terrassa, Catalonia, Spain), commonly known as Xavi is a Spanish footballer who plays in central or defensive midfielder for Barcelona. He has been capped 63 times for the Spanish national team. He played for his country at 2000 Summer Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. He was named Best Player by UEFA at Euro 2008.

Career

Club career

Xavi is a product of Barcelona's youth system and has spent all of his footballing life at the Camp Nou since the age of 11. He quickly made his way through the youth and reserve teams and was a key member of Jordi Gonzalvo's FC Barcelona B team that won promotion to the Segunda División.

His progression through the teams earned him a first team debut on August 18 1998 in the Super Cup final, in which he scored against RCD Mallorca. He quickly went on to become a key member of Louis van Gaal's title winning team.

Although he is most used as an central midfielder, he is also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder. Xavi is considered a successor of Josep Guardiola. Since the title-winning season of 2004/2005, he has been a vice-captain of the team.

Xavi is under contract to Barça until 2010, which carries a buyout clause of £100 million.

Xavi ranks joint third with Amor in the all-time appearances list for Barcelona with 421 appearances in his tenth season at the club.Fact|date=May 2008

International career

Xavi won his first Spanish cap on November 15 2000 against the Netherlands and has since been a regular fixture in the Spanish squad. His trip to the World Cup was in doubt due to a knee ligament injury, but he recovered in time and was named as part of Luis Aragonés' squad. His importance to the team was summed up by Aragonés when he said, "People say it is a gamble to take Xavi with us, but I say it would be a crazy gamble to leave him at home." [http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060618/1/7ucb.html] Xavi was named Man of the Match in Spain's first match against Ukraine and played in all of Spain's other three matches, before they were knocked out by the experienced French team in the second round.

During the Euro 2008, Xavi played a vital role in Spain's successful campaign. Partnering with fellow Barça teammate Andrés Iniesta in the midfield he was the fulcrum between the defense and the forward line regularly supplying the strikers with vital passes and crucial assists. He scored the opening goal in the 50th minute in the semi-final against Russia. In the final he set up Fernando Torres for the winning goal against Germany. He was selected as the best player of the tournament by UEFA. [ [http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=729378.html#xavi+emerges+euros euro2008.uefa.com - Xavi emerges as EURO's top man ] ]

All-time club statistics

As of May 17, 2008

Honours and awards

FC Barcelona

*La Liga: 1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06
*UEFA Champions League: 2005-06
*Supercopa de España: 2005-06, 2006-07

Spain

*FIFA World Youth Championship winner: 1999
*Sydney Olympic Games Silver Medal : 2000
*UEFA European Football Championship winner: 2008

Individual

* Best domestic player: for his performance in Spanish La Liga 2004-05 [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premio_Don_Bal%C3%B3n]
* Player of the Tournament: for his performance in the UEFA Euro 2008

References

External links

*FIFA player|177855
* [http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_07-08/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html Profile on club website]
* [http://www.fcbarcelonaweb.co.uk/v3/squads/profile.html?plid=6 Xavi on FCBarcelonaweb.co.uk]
* [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/international?id=12907&league=fifa.world&season=2006&cc=4716 ESPN Soccernet World Cup Profile]
* [http://www.skysports.com/football/player/0,19754,12024_35367,00.html Sky Sports player profile]