Former Spain and Barcelona midfield star Andres Iniesta has launched the Iniesta Academy in Dubai in collaboration with local partner Abdulrahman Al-Meqbali and the Dubai Sports Council. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Marriott Hotel Al-Jaddaf, Dubai, attended by Saeed Hareb, secretary general of the Dubai Sports Council, along with other VIPs and sports stars.
Transition from Player to Coach
Iniesta is making a smooth transition from his playing career into coaching with the launch of the academy. He has already committed to becoming head coach of Gulf United FC, a Dubai-based UAE First Division team. Having obtained his 'A' Licence, the World Cup winner and Champions League-decorated midfielder will continue working towards his professional license.
Iniesta officially retired from professional football in 2024 after a 22-year career, ending his playing days in the UAE Pro League with Emirates Club. He symbolically chose October 8 for the announcement as a tribute to his iconic number eight jersey.
Academy Philosophy
The Iniesta Academy is built on two pillars: facilitating access to Iniesta's methodology on the field and instilling his values off the field. Iniesta emphasized, 'Our mission is not just to make football players, but also to nurture wonderful humans. It is very important to be a good player with skills and motivation, but equally important to develop core human values of kindness, fairness, and equality.'
The academy is supervised by hand-picked technical directors who ensure this combination of football and human values. Iniesta added, 'Decision-making on the field and adapting to a fast-changing game is one thing, but having a player who believes in humanity is even more valuable for us.'
Iniesta's Legacy
Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Iniesta boasts 38 major trophies, including 32 with FC Barcelona—nine La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies—plus three with Vissel Kobe and the Spanish national team. He achieved legendary status after scoring the extra-time winning goal for Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Iniesta said, 'I feel this is the right time to give something back to the sport. I have always had a deep desire to coach and train young ones, so they have a role model and a blueprint for achieving greatness.'
Partner and Trials
Abdulrahman Al-Meqbali, founder of the Iniesta Academy, expressed his honor in working with a legend like Iniesta and thanked the Dubai Sports Council for their support. He announced that open trials will be held at Dubai Sports World from August 1 to 14, after which academy locations will be selected across Dubai.
