‘El Clasico’ to be played in Japan for Andres Iniesta’s jubilee
Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta, who ended his professional football career last month, will celebrate his retirement with the ‘El Clasico’ match to be played in Japan, where he spent the last years of his career.Andres Iniesta, who played in the Japanese League (J1) for about 5.5 seasons, will celebrate his retirement with the “El Clasico” match.
According to the Japanese national press, Spanish Iniesta will present his final show to Japanese football fans with the motto “El Clasico in Tokyo”.
The exhibition match at Ajinomoto Stadium in the Chofu region west of the capital Tokyo will start at 14:00 local time on December 15. Iniesta plans to celebrate his retirement with the exhibition match, which will feature star colleagues from La Liga teams FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
In the “parade of retired stars” Xavi Hernandez, Rivaldo, Javier Mascherano, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and Iker Casillas will be on the field.
Bojan Krkic, Rafa Marquez, Adriano, Saviola, Julio Baptista, Steve McManaman, Savio, Ivan Campo will also appear on the green field.
Iniesta, who ended his 24-year career with the United Arab Emirates’ Emirates Club team, announced his retirement on October 8.
ANDRES INIESTA’S CAREER
After winning 9 league titles and 4 Champions League titles with Barcelona, Iniesta signed with Vissel Kobe in 2018 and renewed his 2-year contract in 2021.
During Iniesta’s tenure, Vissel Kobe competed in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League for the first time last year and won the 2019 Japan Emperor’s Cup and 2020 Japan Super Cup.
The 40-year-old star football player has participated in four World Cups with Spain in his career and lifted the trophy in the tournament held in South Africa in 2010.
