{"id":132,"date":"2014-05-13T08:00:36","date_gmt":"2014-05-13T08:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/?p=132"},"modified":"2024-07-17T13:34:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T13:34:37","slug":"why-we-love-andres-iniesta-the-worlds-most-beloved-footballer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/2014\/05\/13\/why-we-love-andres-iniesta-the-worlds-most-beloved-footballer\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Love Andres Iniesta, The World’s Most Beloved Footballer"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1999, Pep Guardiola stated that he had seen a 15-year-old in a youth team of FC Barcelona who could read the game better than he could himself. Because the boy was a big fan of Guardiola, he signed a poster for him with the text: \u201cTo the best player I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d The boy was delighted.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Andr\u00e9s-Iniesta-the-most-beloved-footballer-around-the-world\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It were Andr\u00e9s Iniesta\u2019s first steps to a glorious carreer.<\/p>\n

Iniesta is not only one of the world\u2019s best football players. He is also one of the most beloved footballers around the world. Even fans of rivals Real Madrid and Espanyol have to admit they like him as both a player and a person.<\/p>\n

We met Andr\u00e9s Iniesta for the third time during our private signing session last month.<\/a> He is one of the nicest person in football and so down to earth.<\/p>\n

Pep Guardiola once said about Iniesta: \u201cHe doesn\u2019t wear earrings and hasn\u2019t got any tattoos. That makes him unattractive to the media but he is the best.\u201d He is an ordinary-looking guy, who not long ago in a Barcelona caf\u00e9 was mistaken for a waiter by a woman who gave him her order. Iniesta went to the kitchen and got it for her.<\/p>\n

But what makes Iniesta such a beloved player around the world? He thanks his parents for the person he is nowadays.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to return to the small town where I grew up and hang out with my old friends. It is easy for me to be me. I am how my parents educated me. I am what I am thanks to my parents. It\u2019s impossible to lose those values. When I was 12 years old my father saved money for three months to buy me predator boots. I have money now but each time I look at those boots I remember where I come from.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vision of life<\/strong>
\nSomething that changed his vision of life was the death of Dani Jarque, his close friend and Espanyol\u2019s captain, who suddenly passed away in 2009 because of a heart attack. \u201cJarque\u2019s death completely changed my vision of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wanted to make the world remember Dani Jarque. And he did. Iniesta scored the winner in the 2010 FIFA World Cup\u2122 final which made Spain the world champion for the very first time. When all the world was watching him, he took off his shirt and showed his message, \u201cDani Jarque siempre con nosotros.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dani Jarque will always stay with him. And we will always like Andr\u00e9s Iniesta.<\/p>\n

Follow Icons on Twitter for all the latest football news, chat and competitions: @icons_football<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 1999, Pep Guardiola stated that he had seen a 15-year-old in a youth team of FC Barcelona who could read the game better than he could himself. Because the boy was a big fan of Guardiola, he signed a poster for him with the text: \u201cTo the best player I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d The boy… <\/p>\n

Read More<\/i><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[333],"tags":[140,166,24,8,40,165,167,139],"class_list":["post-132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-why-we-love","tag-andres-iniesta","tag-autograph","tag-barca","tag-barcelona","tag-icons","tag-signed-memorabilia","tag-sports-memorabilia","tag-twitter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfQcey-28","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":357,"url":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/2015\/12\/04\/go-behind-the-scenes-of-our-signing-with-andres-iniesta-with-our-brand-new-video\/","url_meta":{"origin":132,"position":0},"title":"Go Behind The Scenes Of Our Signing With Andres Iniesta With Our Brand New Video","author":"Icons.com","date":"December 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Andres Iniesta is\u00a0one of Spanish football's greatest ever players.\u00a0When Barcelona manager Luis Enrique called him \"a national monument\" after the team's\u00a04-0 thumping of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in November 2015, few could\u00a0argue with\u00a0him. That's because, put simply, Iniesta is one of the very best in the game today.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Signing Sessions"","block_context":{"text":"Signing Sessions","link":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/category\/signing-sessions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Andres-Inesta-Icons","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Inesta-Icons.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Inesta-Icons.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Inesta-Icons.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Inesta-Icons.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":267,"url":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/2015\/11\/29\/barcelona-and-spain-legend-andres-iniesta-signs-for-icons-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":132,"position":1},"title":"Barcelona and Spain Legend Andres Iniesta Signs For Icons Again","author":"Icons.com","date":"November 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Fresh from our signing with Lionel Messi \u2013 and an exceptional performance from Barcelona at Camp Nou \u2013 the Icons team were hard at work\u00a0again\u00a0on Sunday night\u00a0as we met with four-time UEFA Champions League winner, two-time UEFA EURO finals conquerer and 2010 FIFA World Cup hero Andres Iniesta in central\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Signing Sessions"","block_context":{"text":"Signing Sessions","link":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/category\/signing-sessions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Andres-Inesta-Icons-Signing-Photos","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Andres-Inesta-Icons-Signing-Photos.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Andres-Inesta-Icons-Signing-Photos.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Andres-Inesta-Icons-Signing-Photos.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Andres-Inesta-Icons-Signing-Photos.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3389,"url":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/2024\/10\/08\/eight-reasons-we-loved-the-career-of-don-andres\/","url_meta":{"origin":132,"position":2},"title":"Eight Reasons We Loved The Career of Don Andr\u00e9s","author":"Alistair Hunter","date":"October 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Legendary former FC Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andr\u00e9s Iniesta today officially announced his retirement from football. We first signed with Andr\u00e9s well over a decade ago and have always thoroughly enjoyed working with him, indeed every bit as much as his balletic football.","rel":"","context":"In "Why We Love"","block_context":{"text":"Why We Love","link":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/category\/why-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Andres-Iniesta-Blog-V1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Andres-Iniesta-Blog-V1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Andres-Iniesta-Blog-V1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Andres-Iniesta-Blog-V1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Andres-Iniesta-Blog-V1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344,"url":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/2015\/12\/10\/icons-launch-their-exclusive-signed-and-match-worn-section\/","url_meta":{"origin":132,"position":3},"title":"Icons Launch Exclusive ‘Signed & Match Worn’ Section","author":"Icons.com","date":"December 10, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Icons work with the world\u2019s best players and today we are proud to launch our new and exclusive signed and match worn section. These are authentic, unique, game-used items direct from some of the greatest players on the planet.\u00a0But how do you know these shirts are the real deal?\u00a0 Icons\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Announcements"","block_context":{"text":"Announcements","link":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/category\/announcements\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Andres-Iniesta","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Iniesta.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Iniesta.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Iniesta.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Andres-Iniesta.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2274,"url":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/2021\/03\/05\/fc-barcelona-spain-legend-xavi-signs-for-icons-com\/","url_meta":{"origin":132,"position":4},"title":"FC Barcelona & Spain Legend Xavi Signs for Icons.com!","author":"Icons.com","date":"March 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Today we are excited to announce the latest iconic name to sign memorabilia for Icons.com: former FC Barcelona and Spain midfield maestro Xavi! Signing behind closed doors at a private session in Qatar on February 8th this year, Xavi added his signature to a wide range of incredible new items,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Signing Sessions"","block_context":{"text":"Signing Sessions","link":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/category\/signing-sessions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/All-New-Xavi-Blog.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/All-New-Xavi-Blog.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/All-New-Xavi-Blog.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/All-New-Xavi-Blog.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/All-New-Xavi-Blog.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/All-New-Xavi-Blog.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":561,"url":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/2016\/02\/18\/why-we-love-messis-300-la-liga-goals\/","url_meta":{"origin":132,"position":5},"title":"Why We Love Messi’s 300 La Liga Goals","author":"Icons.com","date":"February 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"With the opening goal of FC Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Sporting Gijon on Wednesday evening, Lionel Messi became the first player in the history of La Liga to reach 300 league goals. So, to celebrate Messi's landmark achievement, the staff of icons.com have picked their favourite of Messi's now 301\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Why We Love"","block_context":{"text":"Why We Love","link":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/category\/why-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"FBL-ESP-LIGA-BARCELONA-SEVILLA","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/GettyImages-459420070-1024x726.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/GettyImages-459420070-1024x726.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/GettyImages-459420070-1024x726.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3301,"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132\/revisions\/3301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}