FIFA Club World Cup
Having lifted the FIFA Club World Cup twice while wearing the colours of Barcelona, Xavi has returned in an altogether fresh guise.
Now coach of Qatar 2019’s host champions Al Sadd, the Catalan pass master will be orchestrating from the touchline.
That Blaugrana DNA is set to be very present, too, with possession and a selfish desire to hoard the ball key to his coaching ethos.
FIFA.com sat down with Xavi to talk past glories, his present switch to the dugout and the future Qatar has in store with the FIFA World Cup™ on the horizon.
Having lifted the FIFA Club World Cup twice while wearing the colours of Barcelona, Xavi has returned in an altogether fresh guise.
Now coach of Qatar 2019’s host champions Al Sadd, the Catalan pass master will be orchestrating from the touchline.
That Blaugrana DNA is set to be very present, too, with possession and a selfish desire to hoard the ball key to his coaching ethos.
FIFA.com sat down with Xavi to talk past glories, his present switch to the dugout and the future Qatar has in store with the FIFA World Cup™ on the horizon.
What I want is for my team to have control and I think you have that when you have the ball. That’s the way I was brought up at Barça and in the national team.
Brazil
Filipe Luis likened him to Eden Hazard. Argel Fucks said Cristiano Ronaldo. He reportedly has Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain infatuated. The Brazil fans cheer the announcement of his name rhapsodically. Tite said, “It’s him, Neymar and another nine."
Yet Everton Cebolinha travelled to the Copa America 2019 having never started a game for Brazil and wholly expected to warm benches. Then Neymar suffered ankle ligament damage, Richarlison got the mumps, the Gremio attacker was promoted into the starting XI and the rest is history.
FIFA.com caught up with the 23-year-old to discuss the Seleção, Neymar, Renato Gaucho, the players he's most enjoyed watching and his career ambitions.
Filipe Luis likened him to Eden Hazard. Argel Fucks said Cristiano Ronaldo. He reportedly has Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain infatuated. The Brazil fans cheer the announcement of his name rhapsodically. Tite said, “It’s him, Neymar and another nine."
Yet Everton Cebolinha travelled to the Copa America 2019 having never started a game for Brazil and wholly expected to warm benches. Then Neymar suffered ankle ligament damage, Richarlison got the mumps, the Gremio attacker was promoted into the starting XI and the rest is history.
FIFA.com caught up with the 23-year-old to discuss the Seleção, Neymar, Renato Gaucho, the players he's most enjoyed watching and his career ambitions.
There were players alongside me who I used to play as on video games. I was a big fan. So to have my name applauded, in the middle of them, was something that meant so much to me. I still can't believe it.
The Best FIFA Football Awards
Marc-Andre ter Stegen summed up his 2019 as being a year of "highs and lows,” and with very good reason.
He experienced moments of real joy, including a title in La Liga with Barcelona and qualifying for UEFA EURO 2020 with Germany. But alongside those were bitter disappointments, like his side’s UEFA Champions League elimination in a disastrous semi-final second leg and their Copa del Rey final defeat.
Results aside, Ter Stegen unquestionably established himself as one of the finest keepers in the world this year, as evidenced by his presence among the finalists for The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award 2019. Not content to rest on his laurels, the player wants to achieve even more in the year to come.
The 27-year-old German made time for a chat with FIFA.com, looking back on 2019 and revealing some of his upcoming targets.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen summed up his 2019 as being a year of "highs and lows,” and with very good reason.
He experienced moments of real joy, including a title in La Liga with Barcelona and qualifying for UEFA EURO 2020 with Germany. But alongside those were bitter disappointments, like his side’s UEFA Champions League elimination in a disastrous semi-final second leg and their Copa del Rey final defeat.
Results aside, Ter Stegen unquestionably established himself as one of the finest keepers in the world this year, as evidenced by his presence among the finalists for The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award 2019. Not content to rest on his laurels, the player wants to achieve even more in the year to come.
The 27-year-old German made time for a chat with FIFA.com, looking back on 2019 and revealing some of his upcoming targets.
People want us (Germany) to win – they're used to us winning. But it's not always easy, let alone with such a young team. I think the fans should have a little patience with us.
Myanmar on the march as Venezuela hit record high
Discover
Belgium
Pts. 1765
France
Pts. 1733
Brazil
Pts. 1712
England
Pts. 1661
Uruguay
Pts. 1645
Croatia
Pts. 1642
Brazil back in top ten as Kenya, Congo DR soar
Discover
USA
Pts. 2174
Germany
Pts. 2078
Netherlands
Pts. 2035
France
Pts. 2033
Sweden
Pts. 2022
England
Pts. 2001
The Football Law Annual Review initiative, which was launched in 2019 as part of FIFA’s drive towards greater transparency is designed to share the most important regulatory changes and decisions of the last year with representatives of national associations, leagues, clubs and players’ unions, as well as professionals in the legal field.
As the world’s number one sport, football is uniquely placed to strengthen initiatives that can improve the lives of young people around the world.
Italian Football Association
FIGC launches ground-breaking division
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Men's Ranking #13
Women's Ranking #14
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