31.12.2010 11:11

Xavi set to make Club history

Anaïs Martí

With 548 appearances, Xavi is just one game away from equalling Migueli’s club record, something he could do if he plays on Sunday against Llevant.

Migueli played for 16 seasons at the Club and his record of 549 games has held for the last 21 years, but this weekend, the Catalan midfielder will catch up with him, if he plays against Llevant. After 12 years in the top flight, through good times and bad, but always loyal to the colours, Xavi is about to write his name in the Club’s history.

Migueli’s debut

Migueli made his debut in pretty strange circumstances under Rinus Michels in 1973, whilst he was doing his military service and in an interview for the Revista Barça he recalled: “I was doing my military service and and I had a month’s permit, but I didn’t know that in order to play, I should have asked for another – I was two months in the cells after that!”

Club Men

Xavi had his first game for the Club under Louis Van Gaal in 1998. The game was at the Lluís Sitjar, in Mallorca, in the Spanish Super Cup and with Celades and Guardiola both injured, Xavi was brought in to start a fantastic career. For the World Cup Winning midfielder, the support of the fans and the technical staff have been key, but most of all, he reckons: “I’ve been lucky enough to participate and at a club I love!”

Both Xavi and Migueli are Barça men through and through and have shown they are willing to meet any demands on them to help the team: Migueli played through the Basle Cup Winners Cup Final with a broken collar bone and Xavi has been training hard to get over the painful Achilles tendon injury that he’s been suffering with for a while now.

Xavi wants to play out his career at Nou Camp

Migueli hung up his boots at the age of 38 and Xavi, who is 31 in January is keen to play out his career at the Nou Camp too: “I’d love to finish my playing days here and with the team winning things, but that’s not in my hands alone I’m afraid”. Whatever happens, Xavi is sure to go down in the Club’s history as an exemplary servant, something that will be confirmed if he makes it 549 games in the team’s colours this Sunday.