STORY: Spanish and world legend Andres Iniesta retires from professional football
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 8, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:19
LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Andres Iniesta during his farewell ceremony
2. SOUNDBITES (Spanish): ANDRES INIESTA, former football player

STORYLINE:

The legend of Spanish and world football Andres Iniesta announced on Tuesday that he is retiring as a professional footballer at the age of 40. 

The former Spanish footballer was as much admired as he was respected in the world of football, especially idolized in the Spanish national team and at FB Barcelona, where he played for almost his entire time as a footballer.

SOUNDBITES (Spanish): ANDRES INIESTA, former football player
"I'm leaving with sadness, I would have played until I was 90, but I'm leaving happy. Barca changed my life and Barca has been everything to me. I'm starting the coaching course and I want to train in this next stage as a coach."

It was a 22-year career in which Iniesta won 38 titles, 35 between Barcelona, including four Champions Leagues, Japan's Vissel Kobe and the Emirates Club of the United Arab Emirates and three with the Spanish national team, two European Cups and one World.

Iniesta made this farewell in Barcelona in an emotional but sober act, surrounded by his family and professional colleagues.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain.
(XHTV)