5 players who had a special bond with their club

Maldini has left an unparalleled legacy in Italy.
Maldini has left an unparalleled legacy in Italy

#4 Xavi - FC Barcelona

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Xavi was a much loved name among the fans.

If playing in the midfield is an art then Xavi was the Picasso of it. Widely considered to be one of the greatest central midfielders of all time, Xavi is viewed as being the embodiment of the tiki-taka passing style of play.

Rising through the ranks in La Masia, Xavi made his first team debut for FC Bacrelona in 1998. The midfielder was an extraordinary reader of the game. His ability to control the tempo of the game earned him the sobriquet, "The Puppet Master".

Xavi's precision on the ball allowed him to dictate the flow of the game while barely relinquishing possession. He played an important role in Spain's World Cup triumph in South Africa.

On 25 April 2015, Xavi made his 500th La Liga appearance. The Spaniard had announced his departure from the club at the end of 2014-15 season. Xavi's final appearance for the club came in the final of UEFA Champions League against Juventus on 6th June, 2015.

In his 17 year spell at Barcelona, he won 31 trophies consisting of eight league titles and four Champions League titles. He was named as the La Liga midfielder of the year for three consecutive seasons (2009,10,11) and was a part of UEFA Team of the Year for five consecutive years (2008-12).

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Edited by Amit Mishra