Spain’s golden technology skilled the very best of highs after they gained the European Championship in back-to-back editions in 2008 and 2012 whereas additionally successful a primary World Cup in 2010.
In the 13 years for the reason that well-known triumph in South Africa, a number of gamers from that squad have introduced their retirements with the newest being Cesc Fabregas, who supplied the help for the successful objective within the remaining in opposition to the Netherlands, on Saturday.
We take a look at the place the remainder of the workforce are:
1) Iker Casillas
The captain of the World Cup-winning squad retired in 2020 after an acute myocardial infarction he suffered in 2019. Casillas went on to win the Champions League once more with Real Madrid in 2014 earlier than transferring to Porto in 2015. He additionally introduced his Spain retirement after 167 caps along with his remaining look coming in 2016.
2) Raul Albiol
Albiol was a daily for the Spanish facet put up the World Cup however by no means had a beginning function in main competitions. The 37-year-old middle again went on to play for Napoli and Villareal after his stint with Real Madrid.
3) Gerard Pique
Pique, a starter within the Spain XI which gained the World Cup, has 102 caps for the nationwide workforce and retired put up the 2018 World Cup. He continued to play for Barcelona earlier than hanging up his boots in December, 2022. Pique is at the moment the proprietor of Spanish second division facet FC Andorra and he’s additionally the proprietor and president of the Kings League, a brand new format in soccer.
4) Carlos Marchena
Marchena retired from worldwide soccer in 2011 and performed for Villareal, Deportivo la Coruna earlier than ending his skilled profession with Indian Super League facet Kerala Blasters in 2015.
READ | Former Spain midfielder Fabregas retires to take up teaching
Puyol jumps to move within the match-winner for Spain in opposition to Germany within the semifinal.
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AP
5) Carles Puyol
Spain’s beginning center-back Carles Puyol, who scored the winner within the semifinal in opposition to Germany, retired with 100 caps for La Roja in 2013. He additionally completed his skilled profession as a one-club man with Barcelona in 2014.
6) Andres Iniesta
The World Cup remaining match-winner went on to win the European Championship in 2012 however had unsuccessful makes an attempt in main championships in 2014, 2016 and 2018 earlier than he bowed out from the nationwide workforce. Iniesta completed with 133 caps and 15 objectives. He left Barcelona in 2018 to play in Japan with Vissel Kobe for 5 years and is at the moment and not using a membership.
Spain’s Andres Iniesta (No. 6) beat the Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to attain the one objective of the ultimate. Spain gained the match in extra-time to take the title.
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7) David Villa
Villa, who was Spain’s top-scorer within the World Cup, struggled with accidents and have become a peripheral a part of the nationwide workforce earlier than retiring with 59 objectives in as many video games. He went on to win the Champions League with Barcelona earlier than having spells with Atletico Madrid, the place he led it to a well-known La Liga title, Melbourne City, New York City FC and Vissel Kobe, the place he retired after one season in 2019.
David Villa was the top-scorer for Spain within the 2010 World Cup.
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AP
8) Xavi Hernandez
Xavi, who was the chief creator in midfield in that Spanish workforce, retired with 133 caps in 2014 put up the World Cup in Brazil, the place Spain didn’t make it out of th group levels.
He left Barcelona in 2015 and performed for Al Sadd for 4 years to name it quits in 2019. He is at the moment the supervisor of Barcelona and led it to a La Liga title in May.
9) Fernando Torres
Torres, who got here on instead within the remaining, had a profitable European Championship in 2012, the place he secured the Golden Boot. He then retired from the nationwide workforce in 2014 with 110 caps. He went on to play for Chelsea, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Sagan Tosu (Japan), the place he ended his profession in 2019. He is at the moment the youth coach at Atletico.
10) Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas, who supplied the help within the remaining, performed 110 instances for Spain and performed his final sport in 2016. He had varied spells in Barcelona, Chelsea, Monaco and Como, the place he ended his taking part in profession in 2023. He is at the moment the youth coach Como.
11) Joan Capdevila
Veteran defender Capdevila, who was the beginning left-back, referred to as time on his worldwide profession the next 12 months with 60 appearances to his identify. He had spells after Villareal with Benfica, Espanyol, NorthEast United, Lierse and Santa Coloma, the place he hung up his boots in 2017.
12) Victor Valdes
Valdes, who was the third-choice keeper in 2010, along with his final look for La Roja coming in 2014. He left Barcelona in 2014 and had spells with Manchester United, Standard Liege and Middlesbrough. After his taking part in profession resulted in 2017, he has had just a few spells in teaching in decrease rungs of Spanish soccer.
13) Juan Mata
Mata, who had only one look within the 2010 World Cup, final performed for Spain in 2016 and scored a objective within the remaining of the 2012 Euros. He went on to have trophy-laden spells with Chelsea, Manchester United and Galatasaray.
14) Xabi Alonso
Alonso, who was a key determine in central midfield throughout the event, went on to win the Euros in 2012 earlier than retiring from worldwide soccer in 2014. He had embellished spells with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich earlier than calling it quits in 2017. He is now the supervisor of Bayer Leverkusen.
15) Sergio Ramos
Ramos, who was the right-back within the 2010 event, went on to captain the nationwide facet and completed his worldwide profession in 2023 because the most-capped participant for La Roja with 180 caps. After successful 4 Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, the place he spent two seasons, whereas successful the Ligue 1.
Spain’s defender Sergio Ramos raises the trophy throughout the award ceremony following the 2010 FIFA soccer World Cup
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AFP/CHRISTOPHE SIMON
16) Sergio Busquets
Busquets, who was a part of a midfield two with Alonso in 2010, completed his Spain taking part in profession in 2022 with 143 caps and was additionally a part of the 2012 Euro-winning workforce. After 15 seasons along with his boyhood membership Barcelona, the 34-year-old Busquets moved to Inter Miami this summer season.
17) Alvaro Arbeloa
A backup to Ramos in 2010, Arbeloa was the beginning right-back within the 2012 Euros made 56 appearances for the Spanish facet. After seven seasons with Real Madrid, Arbeloa retired from soccer in 2017 with a spell at West Ham United. He is at the moment teaching the Real Madrid u-19 facet.
18) Pedro Rodriguez
A bench participant in 2010, Pedro had a run within the Spanish beginning XI for just a few years till he fell out of favour. He scored 17 objectives in 65 appearances. The 35-year-old is at the moment taking part in at Lazio after profitable spells with Barcelona and Chelsea.
19) Fernando Llorente
A backup in 2010 with only one look, the towering striker made simply 24 appearances for Spain in a seven-year interval from 2007 and 2013. The 38-year-old Llorente left his boyhood membership Athletic Bilbao in 2013 earlier than taking part in for Juventus, Sevilla, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, Napoli and Udinese. He retired after a 12 months at Eibar in 2022.
20) Javi Martinez
Martinez, who made only one look in 2010, struggled with accidents earlier than ending strongly at Bayern Munich with 9 league titles and two Champions League crowns. He then moved to Qatars SC in 2021. the 34-year-old made 18 appearances for Spain between 2010 and 2014.
21) David Silva
Silva, who was used as a sub in 2010, went onto turn into a daily starter for Spain within the years to return, together with a starring function within the 2012 Euros. He bowed out of worldwide soccer in 2018 with 125 caps to his identify. The 37-year-old midfielder at the moment performs for Real Sociedad after a glittering 10-year spell with Manchester City.
22) Jesus Navas
Navas, who got here on within the remaining in 2010, has had fluctuating fortunes with the nationwide workforce however not too long ago made a comeback to the facet on the age of 37-year-old after being transformed from a winger to a full-back. Navas is the participant in historical past to win a World Cup, European Championship and a Nations League title. After a four-year spell with Manchester City, Navas returned to Sevilla, the place he gained two Europa League titles.
23) Pepe Reina
Reina was the second-choice keeper to Casillas in 2010 and continued to be within the function for a number of years earlier than he was dropped from the setup after 2018. At 40, Reina continues to play top-flight soccer and is at the moment taking part in for Villareal in La Liga.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com