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Xavi
Personal information
Full name	Xavier Hernandez Creus
Date of birth	25 January 1980 (1980-01-25) (age 27)
Place of birth	Terrassa, Catalonia, Spain
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	FC Barcelona
Number	6
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1997-1999 1999–	FC Barcelona B FC Barcelona	51 (2) 256 (20)
National team2
2000–	Spain	53 (5)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 October 2007. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 20 June 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Xavier Hernandez Creus (born January 25, 1980, Terrassa, Catalonia), normally known as Xavi is a Catalan footballer who plays in central midfield for Barcelona. He currently plays for FC Barcelona and has been capped 51 times for the Spanish national team. He played for his country at 2000 Summer Olympics, 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. He is renowned throughout Europe for his exceptional passing ability and technique.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 Club career 1.2 International career 2 Honors and awards 3 References 4 External links

Xavi has spent all of his footballing life at the Camp Nou having joined Barça at age of 11. 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.

His progression through the teams earned him a first team debut on August 18, 1998 in Super Cup final, when he scored against RCD Mallorca. He quickly went on to become a key member of Louis van Gaal's title winning team.

Though he is most used as an attacking midfielders he is also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, just in front of the defenders. Xavi is considered as a natural successor of Josep Guardiola. Since the title-winning season 2004/2005 he has been third captain of the team.

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

On Sunday, September 2 2007, Xavi played his 250th La Liga game with Barça, at the age of 27.

Xavi won his first Spanish cap on November 15, 2000 against Holland and has since been a regular fixture in the Spanish squad. His trip to the World Cup was in doubt due to a knee ligament injury, but he recovered 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."[1] 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.

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Spain
Men's Football
Silver	2000 Sydney	Team Competition

• FIFA World Youth Championship winner: 1999
• Sydney Olympic Games Silver Medal : 2000
• La Liga Champion 1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06
• UEFA Champions League 2005-06
• Supercopa de España 2005-06, 2006-07

• Profile on club website
• Xavi on FCBarcelonaweb.co.uk
• ESPN Soccernet World Cup Profile
• Sky Sports player profile

v • d • e Spain squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Casillas • 2 Torres • 3 Juanfran • 4 Helguera • 5 Puyol • 6 Hierro • 7 Raúl • 8 Baraja • 9 Morientes • 10 Tristán • 11 de Pedro • 12 Luque • 13 Ricardo • 14 Albelda • 15 Romero • 16 Mendieta • 17 Valerón • 18 Sergio • 19 Xavi • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Joaquín • 23 Contreras • Coach: Camacho

v • d • e Spain squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Casillas • 2 M. Salgado • 3 M. Pernía • 4 Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 Albelda • 7 Raúl • 8 Xavi • 9 Torres • 10 Reyes • 11 L. García • 12 A. López • 13 Iniesta • 14 X. Alonso • 15 S. Ramos • 16 M. Senna • 17 Joaquín • 18 Cesc • 19 Cañizares • 20 Juanito • 21 D. Villa • 22 P. Ibáñez • 23 Reina • Coach: Aragonés

v • d • e FC Barcelona – current squad
1 Víctor • 3 Gabi Milito • 4 Rafa Márquez • 5 Puyol • 6 Xavi • 7 Gudjohnsen • 8 Iniesta • 9 Eto'o • 10 Ronaldinho • 11 Zambrotta • 14 Henry • 15 Edmílson • 16 Sylvinho • 17 Giovani • 18 Ezquerro • 19 Messi • 20 Deco • 21 Thuram • 22 Abidal • 23 Oleguer • 24 Touré Yaya • 25 Jorquera • 27 Bojan • Coach: Rijkaard