Sharjah 24: “Football always was and is my life, my passion and I will continue enjoying the sport,” noted professional footballer Andres Iniesta, at a live Q&A session titled ‘The Iniesta Methodology’ on February 3, the opening day of the 7th annual edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2024.
Organised by Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center from February 3-4 at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), SEF 2024 celebrates the theme 'Our Shared Canvas' and has 200+ speakers and changemakers, 100+ startups and over 50 leading investors who have come together on the SEF platform to share, explore, learn, collaborate and create impact.
Moderated by Dana Patterson, Sheraa Programme Associate, the session on the Impact Stage was a wonderful opportunity for fans and attendees to get to know the Spanish football player who had helped his country win the Euro title in 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Taking his fans down memory lane, Iniesta reminisced about playing with his father and friends in his village in Spain as the beginning of his long and passionate journey to football stardom.
Regarding his “telepathic” relationship with midfielder teammates and good friends Xavi and Sergio Busquets, Iniesta said that playing with them had been the easiest and he had an amazing time playing together for the clubs and the national team. To another question on his favourite league, he replied: “I like football globally, but I follow La Liga and Barcelona and also the Japanese league Vissel Kobe; I had lived with my family in Japan for five years until 2023. Right now, I am happy being here in the UAE playing for Emirates Football Club.”
The 39-year-old soccer great said his aspiration was to continue playing football as long as he could, and maybe progress to a coach or director of a football team later. “I want to stay as close to the ball and the field as I can because it gives me the greatest pleasure,” he professed.
Iniesta stated that he wanted to help his present team and team mates as best as he could to achieve success in the game. He added that he and his family enjoyed being in the UAE and savouring the “delicious” local food.
To a question from the audience, the star player said that his children were free to choose his path provided they enjoyed the game. The midfielder revealed that his favourite player was Argentina’s Lionel Messi, while adding that he did not see any young footballer to be like him and felt each one has their own style and greatness.
Iniesta, considered the best midfielder in the world, had scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final against the Netherlands, earning him the Man of the Match title. Iniesta was subsequently voted Man of the Match and Best Player of the Tournament at the 2012 European Championships, and Spain became the first country to win two consecutive Euro titles.
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