First Pirlo, now this?! Xavi to retire in the summer

Matt Stead

The football world is wondering quite what it has done to deserve this after Xavi announced his impending retirement from playing.

The former Barcelona midfielder moved to Qatari club Al Sadd in 2015, which he says has helped prolong his career.

But he admits that, having started playing first-team football in 1997, he is coming towards the end of a glittering spell.

The icon won 25 trophies at the Nou Camp, as well as a range of individual and team awards.

But in the same week that fellow legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo announced his retirement, the 37-year-old has admitted that “there’s been a descent”.

“I’ve had luck not to be injured and I think my career has come towards its end, there’s been a descent,” he told Mundo Leo.

“Qatar allowed me this. Now I see myself being more tired, it’s harder to recover, it will surely be my last year of being a footballer. I have the idea of getting my coaching license next year and being a coach.”