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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Xavier Hernández Creus | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | FC Barcelona | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 Jun 2006 | |||
Xavier Hernández Creus (born January 25th 1980, Terrassa, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish footballer. His name is usually shortened to Xavi. He currently plays for FC Barcelona and has also played 33 times for Spain. Xavi usually plays as a midfielder.
Career
Xavi has spent all his footballing life at the Camp Nou having joined Barça when he was 11 years old. 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 second division.
His exceptional growth through the teams earned a top-flight debut on August 11 1998. Xavi's first season in the top-flight was exceptional. In fact he scored on debut in a Super Cup game against Mallorca. He quickly went on to become a key member of Louis Van Gaal's title winning squad. His goal at the Nuevo Zorrilla is considered by many to be the turning point of Barça's season.
Xavi has since been a permanent fixture in the Barça midfield, under various coaches like Louis Van Gaal, Carles Reixach, Radomir Antic and Frank Rijkaard. He won his first Spanish cap on November 15 2000 against Holland 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 Xavi recovered well in time and was named as part of Luis Aragones' squad. His importance to the team was summed by Aragones 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.'
Honors and awards
 | ||
| Silver medal |
2000 Sydney |
Football Men's Team Competition |
- FIFA World Youth Championship winner: 1999
- Sydney Olympic Games Silver Medal : 2000
- La Liga Title 1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06
- UEFA Champions League 2005-06
- Spanish Super Cup 2005-06
External Links
- http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/jugadores/futbol/palmares_6.shtml : Profile on club website
- http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/international?id=12907&league=fifa.world&season=2006&cc=4716 : ESPN Soccernet World Cup Profile
| Spain squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup | ||
|---|---|---|
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| FC Barcelona – current squad | |
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