Xavi Hernandez

Xavi Hernandez: The Story of a Football Legend

Early Life

Xavier Hernandez Creus, or Xavi for short, was born on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Spain. As a young boy, Xavi loved to play football. He played football in the street with his friends and in his garden with his family. His father was also a football player, and he taught Xavi how to play.

Starting at Barcelona

When Xavi was only 11 years old, he joined FC Barcelona's famous youth academy. This school for young football players is called "La Masia." At La Masia, Xavi learned how to be a great football player. He was a very good student, and his teachers liked him because he was smart and worked hard.

Playing Style

Xavi was not very tall or very fast. But he was very, very clever. He could see things on the football field that other players could not see. He was like a teacher on the field. He told other players where to run and when to run. He was very good at passing the ball. Many people say he was one of the best passers ever in football.

When Xavi had the ball, he almost never lost it. He could turn away from other players very easily. He could pass the ball short or long. He helped his team keep the ball and make the other team tired. This way of playing is called "tiki-taka."

Success with Barcelona

Xavi played his first game for Barcelona's main team in 1998. He was 18 years old. From that day, he played more and more games. Soon, he became one of the most important players on the team.

With Barcelona, Xavi won many, many trophies. Here are some of them:
- 8 Spanish leagues (La Liga)
- 4 Champions League titles
- 3 Spanish Cups (Copa del Rey)
- 2 FIFA Club World Cups

He played 767 games for Barcelona. This is a very big number! Only Lionel Messi has played more games for Barcelona than Xavi.

Playing with Great Players

At Barcelona, Xavi played with many great players. Some of them were:
- Lionel Messi
- Andres Iniesta
- Carles Puyol
- Samuel Eto'o
- Ronaldinho

Xavi and Iniesta were very good friends. They played together in the middle of the field. Many people say they were the best pair of midfield players ever.

Spain National Team

Xavi also played for Spain's national team. He played 133 games for Spain. With Spain, he won:
- The World Cup in 2010
- The European Championship in 2008
- The European Championship in 2012

The Spain team that won these trophies was one of the best national teams ever. They played the same way as Barcelona, with lots of passes. Xavi was very important in this team.

Special Awards

Because he was such a good player, Xavi won many special awards:
- He was in the UEFA Team of the Year five times
- He was chosen as the best player at Euro 2008
- He was third place for the Ballon d'Or (best player in the world) in 2009
- He was in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 2010

After Barcelona

In 2015, Xavi left Barcelona. He went to play in Qatar for a team called Al Sadd. He played there for four years. Then, he became the coach of Al Sadd.

In 2021, Xavi came back to Barcelona. This time, he came as the coach, not a player. He wanted to help Barcelona become a great team again.

Xavi's Football Ideas

As a coach, Xavi wants his teams to play like he played. He wants them to:
- Keep the ball a lot
- Make many short passes
- Move the ball quickly
- Work as a team
- Attack a lot
- Press high up the field

Personal Life

Xavi is married to Nuria Cunillera. They got married in 2013. They have three children. Even though he is very famous, Xavi likes to live a quiet life. He enjoys spending time with his family.

When he is not working, Xavi likes to play golf. He also likes to watch football games and learn new things about football.

Why Xavi is Special

Many things make Xavi a special football player:
1. He played almost all his life at one club (Barcelona)
2. He won almost every important trophy in football
3. He changed how people think about football
4. He showed that small players can be very good if they are smart
5. He helped make Barcelona and Spain two of the best teams ever

Learning from Xavi

Young players can learn many things from Xavi:
- You don't need to be big or fast to be good at football
- It's important to work hard and learn
- Being smart is very important in football
- Helping your teammates is better than trying to do everything alone
- If you love what you do, you can be very good at it

Famous Quotes About Xavi

Here are some things that other people said about Xavi:

Pep Guardiola (his coach at Barcelona) said: "Xavi is the best Spanish player in history."

Lionel Messi said: "Xavi is the best player in Barcelona's history."

Johan Cruyff said: "Xavi can do things with the ball that very few players can do."

Simple Words to Know

Here are some important words from this text:
- Trophy: A cup or prize you get when you win something
- Midfielder: A player who plays in the middle of the field
- Academy: A school for learning special skills
- Pass: To give the ball to another player
- Coach: The person who teaches and leads a team
- Legend: Someone who is very famous and respected

The End

Xavi Hernandez is one of football's greatest players. He showed that you can be the best by being smart and working hard. Today, many young players want to play like Xavi. His story teaches us that if we love something and work hard, we can do great things.

People will remember Xavi for many years. He changed football in a good way. He showed that football can be beautiful when players work together and think about the team first.

Reading Comprehension Questions: Xavi Hernandez Biography

True or False Questions
1. Xavi was born in Barcelona.
2. He started playing at Barcelona when he was 11 years old.
3. Xavi was very tall and fast.
4. He played more games for Barcelona than Lionel Messi.
5. Xavi won the World Cup with Spain in 2010.
6. He became Barcelona's coach in 2015.
7. Xavi has three children.
8. He only played for two clubs in his career: Barcelona and Al Sadd.

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where did Xavi learn to play football as a young player?
a) At home with his mother
b) Only in the street
c) At La Masia
d) In England

2. How many Spanish leagues (La Liga) did Xavi win with Barcelona?
a) 4
b) 6
c) 8
d) 10

3. Who was Xavi's close friend and midfield partner at Barcelona?
a) Lionel Messi
b) Carles Puyol
c) Andres Iniesta
d) Ronaldinho

4. What does Xavi like to do when he is not working?
a) Play tennis
b) Play golf
c) Go swimming
d) Play basketball

5. What kind of football does Xavi want his teams to play as a coach?
a) Very defensive football
b) Long ball football
c) Football with many short passes
d) Counter-attack football

Short Answer Questions
1. Name three trophies that Xavi won with Spain's national team.

2. What is "tiki-taka" and why was Xavi good at it?

3. Why do people say Xavi was special even though he wasn't fast or strong?

4. What job did Xavi do after he stopped playing football?

5. Name three things that young players can learn from Xavi.

Fill in the Blanks
Complete these sentences using information from the text:
1. Xavi played ______ games for Barcelona.
2. He was born in the year ______ in ______.
3. Before becoming Barcelona's coach, Xavi was the coach of ______.
4. Xavi won the European Championship with Spain in ______ and ______.
5. He is married to a woman named ______.

Vocabulary Matching
Match these words with their meanings:
1. Trophy a) Someone who teaches and leads a team
2. Legend b) A player who plays in the middle
3. Coach c) To give the ball to another player
4. Pass d) A prize you get when you win
5. Midfielder e) Someone very famous and respected

Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Xavi was such a good football player?
2. Would you like to play football like Xavi? Why or why not?
3. What do you think is more important in football: being fast and strong, or being smart?
4. Why do you think Barcelona chose Xavi to be their coach?
5. What is the most interesting thing you learned about Xavi from this text?