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Full name Andrés Iniesta Luján
Nationality Spanish
Date of birth May 11, 1984 (1984-05-11)
Place of birth Fuentealbilla, Albacete, Spain
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Nickname Sweet Iniesta
Position Midfielder
Number 8

Andrés Iniesta Luján (born 11 May 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Albacete) is a Spanish attacking midfielder currently playing for FC Barcelona. He is generally deployed by coach Frank Rijkaard in a central midfield role and is a favourite amongst the Barça fans.

At the age of 12, Iniesta was spotted by Barça scouts at his local club Albacete Balompié. He was switftly signed and worked his way up the club ranks. Louis van Gaal handed him his debut on 29 October, 2002, a UEFA Champions League game against Club Brugge KV. He appeared eleven times in the league in 2003-04, mostly as a deputy for Camp Nou favourite Ronaldinho, as Barça sealed second place, scoring once.

In the 2004-05 season Iniesta successfully secured a permanent slot in the first team and figured in 37 of 38 league games – more than any other player. He displayed an unselfish attitude by regularly aiding strikers Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho but was unfortunate in front of goal – denied by the woodwork on several occasions, he found the net just twice.

Iniesta’s improvement as a player continued in the 2005-06 and because of the absence of Xavi due to injury, he was given regular starts in midfield. The increased playing time offered to him at the highest level gave him the opportunity to blossom into a superb midfielder. His contribution to the team was praised by Coach Frank Rijkaard. His callup to the Spanish squad for the World Cup came as no surprise to football pundits.

On the 22nd of August, 2006 Andres lifted the prestigious Joan Gamper Trophy as the captain of the team after defeating German side Bayern München 4-0.

His current contract with FC Barcelona ends in June of 2010.[2] On July 19th he was linked with a move to rivals Real Madrid. Reports in newspapers suggested Real was prepared to pay 60 million euros for him [3] which would trigger his release clause. However, he reiterated his desire to remain with Barça by saying “I can’t do anything about it but I’d like to insist once again that I want to stay here. When I say I want to retire in Barça, I say it with all my heart.” [4]

For the 2007/08 season, Iniesta has been given the number ‘8′ shirt for Barça after it was vacated following Ludovic Giuly’s transfer to A.S. Roma.

Iniesta is a versatile player who can play in a variety of midfield roles. He is usually used in a central midfield role – sometimes as a creative midfielder and sometimes as a holding midfielder. He has also played on the right hand side of midfield on occasion. During the match between Barcelona and PFC Levski Sofia in the UEFA Champions League 2006/07, Iniesta was playing the role of a striker instead of midfield and he scored twice in the two games that Barcelona played against them. He was also assigned to cover Steven Gerrard at the right flank, meaning he had to play as left back in the matches against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round in 2007 and performed considerably well.

He has good skill on the ball, great passing and movement all rounded off with a sound footballing brain. His superb passing has unhinged many resolute defences – he played a big part in the first Barça goal against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final of 2006. He also has the ability to win the ball, and is an extremely tidy player who works hard for the team.

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard describes Iniesta’s passing ability as “like watching somebody hand out sweets”.

Full name Rafael Márquez Álvarez
Nationality Mexican
Date of birth February 13, 1979 (1979-02-13)
Place of birth Zamora, Mexico
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1?2 in)
Nickname Rafa
Position Midfielder
Number 4

Rafael Márquez Álvarez, better known as Rafa Márquez (born on February 13, 1979 in Zamora, Michoacán) is an international Mexican football player, specializing as both a centre back and defensive midfielder, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga and for the Mexican national team as their team captain.

Rafael Márquez began his career at Mexican club Atlas de Guadalajara, for whom he debuted in 1996 at only 17 years old. Márquez rose to prominence while with Atlas, making 77 appearances for the team and being runner-up in the league losing the final against Club Toluca in penalties. He debuted for the Mexican national team, before moving on in 1999. In that year, French club Monaco purchased Márquez for €6 million. Márquez was an immediate success with Monaco, helping lead the team to the French title in his first season with the club. Despite pressures from larger clubs, Márquez would remain with the club until 2003, when Barcelona purchased him for €5 million.

In his first season with Barcelona, Márquez appeared 21 times, helping the team to a second place finish in La Liga. During his second season he was moved from his typical position as a central defender to the defensive mid-field, due to injuries to players Motta, Edmilson and Gerard. He completed a great season, being one of the main players that helped Barcelona win its 17th Spanish League on May 14, 2005 after a 1-1 tie with Levante. After an injury in his left knee, he returned after a month to play against Milan in the first leg of the 2006 UEFA Champions League Semifinal. Barcelona, the away team, won 1-0. On May 17, 2006, he won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, making him the first ever Mexican football player to do so. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Rafael Marquez renovated his contract to 38.5 million dollars for 4 years in FC Barcelona, ending his contract in June 2010.

Full name Gabriel Alejandro Milito
Nationality Argentinian
Date of birth September 7, 1980 (1980-09-07)
Place of birth Bernal, Argentina
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Nickname Gabi
Position Defender
Number 3

Gabriel Alejandro Milito (born 7 September 1980, Bernal, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine professional football defender, currently playing for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona.

Previously, Milito played for Argentine first division Independiente from 1997 to 2003. During that time, he had to face his older brother Diego Milito, who played for Independiente’s arch-rivals Racing Club, and who as of the end of the 2006-07 season was his teammate at Real Zaragoza.

In 2003, he was due to be transferred to Real Madrid, but the Spanish team rejected the player after some medical results that, so the club said, showed a not-fully-recovered knee injury. To many, it was a political move against Madrid’s football director Jorge Valdano, who wanted the player in the team. It was also suggested that he was rejected because he was not a very famous player internationally, and therefore would not fit the galactico team which Real Madrid presented at the time.[citation needed] Milito decided to stay in Spain, and signed for Real Zaragoza.

With the Argentine national football team he participated in the Confederations Cup 2005 and was part of the squad which qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, performing well in the first-round match of Argentina against Netherlands national football team.

On July 10 Real Zaragoza reached an agreement with FC Barcelona for 20.5 million euros(£13.9m), with this agreement Milito has become a new player of FC Barcelona. Milito has signed a contract with FC Barcelona for the next four seasons earning approximately 4 millions euros (£2.7m) for each season.

On July 19 Milito passed his medical at FC Barcelona and signed a four-year deal with the club. He has been given the number ‘3′ shirt to wear at present after the number was free due to Thiago Motta’s transfer to Atlético Madrid.

Full name Xavier Hernández Creus
Nationality Spanish
Date of birth January 25, 1980 (1980-01-25)
Place of birth Terrassa, Spain
Height 170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Nickname Humphrey Bogart
Position Deep-lying playmaker
Number 6

Xavier Hernández Creus (born January 25, 1980, Terrassa, Catalonia, Spain), normally known as Xavi is a Spanish footballer who plays in central midfield for Barcelona. He currently plays for FC Barcelona and has been capped 43 times for the Spanish national team. He played for his country at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. He is renowned throughout Europe for his exceptional passing ability and technique.

Xavi has spent all of his footballing life at the Camp Nou having joined Barça when he was only at the tender age of 11 years. 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 Segunda División.
Video: the best of Xavi

Xavi was born in the famous street of Barcelona, La Rambla. but believe it or not Xavi was a RCD Espanyol fan this was because his family was strong Espanyol fans. His grandfather Julio Hernandez was team captain in the 1968 season also Xavi’s younger brother Quique plays for Espanyols B team.

His exceptional growth throughout the teams earned him a full debut on August 11, 1998. He quickly went on to become a key member of Louis van Gaal’s title winning first team.

He won his first Spanish cap on November 15, 2000 against Holland and has since been a regular fixture in the Spanish squad. Xavi has endeared many fans with his long-range passing ability and deft touches to open opposition teams up. These, coupled with his steady composure, qualify him as one of the classiest midfielders in Europe. When on the pitch he shows no nerves whatsoever as he guides the team with an extraordinarily cool head. Since taking on the mantle of playmaker at Barca he has shown incredible vision on the pitch.

Even though he is most used as one of the more attacking midfielders he is more than capable of playing at the position just in front of the defense, where he exceptionally controls the pace of the game.

Since the title-winning season 2004/2005 he has been third captain of the team.

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 Aragonés’ squad. His importance to the team was summed by Aragonés 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.”

Throughout the tournament Xavi showed his importance to Spain, consistently setting up his teammates with his well placed passes. Xavi was named Man of the Match in Spain’s first match against Ukraine and played in all of Spain’s other three matches, before they were knocked out in the second round.

Xavi is contracted to Barca until 2010, which carries a buyout clause of £100 million.

On sunday,september 2 2007, Xavi played his 250th game with barca, at the age of 27.

Full name Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen (known in English as Eidur Gudjohnsen)
Nationality Iceland
Date of birth September 15, 1978 in Reykjavík
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Nickname Guddy
Position Striker/Attacking Midfielder
Number N°7

Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen (born September 15, 1978 in Reykjavík), known in English as Eidur Gudjohnsen, is an Icelandic football player who is a striker with FC Barcelona, having signed for the Spanish club on 14 June 2006. For the six previous years he had been a midfielder/striker with the English Premiership club Chelsea, having made his name with Bolton Wanderers in what is now Football League Championship. He is the captain of the Iceland national team and is often referred to as the greatest Icelandic player who is currently still in the game. For Barcelona he wears the number 7 shirt and for Iceland number 9. So far in his professional football career, Guðjohnsen has scored 128 goals in all competitions.

Eidur Gudjohnsen and the FC Barcelona
With Chelsea making several big-name signings in the 2006 off-season, notably strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Salomon Kalou and midfielder Michael Ballack, there was growing speculation concerning Guðjohnsen’s opportunities for playing time in the 2006-07 Premier League season and his future at Chelsea. Despite being linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid, amongst others, on 14 June 2006 it was announced that he had joined Barcelona on a three year contract, with the option of an additional year. He was signed to replace Henrik Larsson, who had decided to finish his career at his home town club of Helsingborg in Sweden.The fee was claimed to be €12 million with an additional €3 million depending on appearances and performances. On 28 August 2006, he made his La Liga debut in a match against Celta Vigo. With three minutes remaining in the match, he scored the game-winning goal, leading Barcelona to a 3-2 win. When a Celta defender stumbled over Guðjohnsen’s first attempt at a shot, the ball bounced in the air and Guðjohnsen volleyed it past the keeper. Guðjohnsen scored against Chelsea in the Champions League in October 2006, and recorded a brace against Mallorca in mid-November. Guðjohnsen scored one of the goals against Werder Bremen, 2-0, to take FC Barcelona to the final sixteen of the Champions League. Guðjohnsen also gained fame in the United States when he scored an impressive goal against Mexican champions Club Deportivo Guadalajara in front of nearly 100,000 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

On 6 March 2007, Guðjohnsen scored for Barcelona as they fought to overturn their disadvantage in a UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield. Despite winning the match, Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League on away goals.