Xavi

Xavi is a soccer player for FC Barcelona. He was born in Terrassa (Barcelona), Spain on July 25, 1980. Xavi started playing for Barecelona youth team at age 11 and professionally during the 1997-1998 season.http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html Xavi has played on several championship winning teams and through the 2008-2009 season, has 34 goals in 380 games.http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=549&b=true&pn=Xavier_Hern%C3%A1ndez_Creus He is a member of the Spain World Cup Team for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

Xavi scored his first career goal for Barcelona B during the 1997-1998 season.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavi In 1999 he was a member of the Spanish National Team which won the Under 20 World Championship. Xavi played for Spain at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal. He was the 2008 Euro Player of the Tournament and has been a part of six team championships.http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html Xavi scored a career high 7 goals in 35 games for FC Barcelona during the 2007-2008 season.http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=549&b=true&pn=Xavier_Hern%C3%A1ndez_Creus On December 9, 2009, Xavi made his 100th appearance in the UEFA Champions League.http://www.extrafootie.co.uk/news/article/32115/

• 1999: Member of the Under 20 World Champion Spanish National Teamhttp://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html

• 2000: Won silver medal at the Summer Olympicshttp://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html

• La Liga Champion: 4 (1998-1999, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2008-2009)http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html

• 2005-2006: Winner of the Champions Leaguehttp://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html

• 2008 Euro Player of the Tournamenthttp://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html

• 2008-2009: Winner of the Champions Leaguehttp://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/xavi.html

• 2009: Catalan Sports Person of the Yearhttp://goal.com/en-us/news/88/spain/2010/01/11/1739781/barcelonas-xavi-insists-his-team-can-overcome-sevilla

• 2001-2002: Games started: 31, Total appearances: 38, Goals: 4
• 2002-2003: Games started: 44, Total appearances: 46, Goals: 3
• 2003-2004: Games started: 42, Total appearances: 46, Goals: 5
• 2004-2005: Games started: 48, Total appearances: 53, Goals: 3
• 2005-2006: Games started: 20, Total appearances: 23, Goals: 1, Assists: 1
• 2006-2007: Games started: 47, Total appearances: 58, Goals: 6, Assists: 5
• 2007-2008: Games started: 48, Total appearances: 52, Goals: 9, Assists: 8
• 2008-2009: Games started: 73, Total appearances: 77, Goals: 16, Assists: 34
• 2009-2010: Games started: 48, Total appearances: 53, Goals: 5, Assists: 11
• 2010-2011: Games started: 0, Total appearances: 1 (season in progress)

"I'm the same, but the media has changed, not only with me but with all the Spanish players. Now people look at us with more respect, more admiration for the fact we won. Winning makes an incredible difference to a player." - Xavihttp://goal.com/en-us/news/88/spain/2009/11/17/1631243/euro-2008-success-won-us-respect-from-the-media-spain-midfielder-

"We will try to repeat what we did last year. With hard work, we must try to maximise the titles again. We look again for the Champions League, but winning six titles cannot be easily repeated. Winning the World Club was spectacular, especially as it was the first time." -Xavihttp://goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/12/22/1702747/barcelona-playmaker-xavi-aiming-to-repeat-six-trophy-haul

"We would like him to extend his contract but it is up to him. I think he wants to stay, that he feels at home here. He is possibly the best coach in the history of the club and he has only been here one year." - Xavi, on coach Josep Guardiola and his contract renewalhttp://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jzHgEBTHej0SDdyXgF_crQ3YdUQQ

"Cesc is perfectly adapted. Barca has his DNA, he knows the club and how things work here. The club has denied an agreement with him but we'll see." - Xavi, on Cesc Fabregas returning to Barcelona somedayhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1250448/Cesc-Fabregas-leave-Arsenal-join-Barcelona-day-claims-Xavi.html