Andrés Iniesta has gone down in history as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. He is now starting a new chapter in the UAE’s second division.
In 2024, Andrés Iniesta ended his professional career in the United Arab Emirates after more than 20 years. Now, a new challenge awaits the 42-year-old in the desert nation. The former midfield maestro, who steered the fortunes of FC Barcelona for a decade and a half (674 competitive matches), is now taking on his first coaching job in the UAE’s second division. Gulf United FC of Dubai introduced the World and European champion as their new coach on Monday.
“The move to Gulf United FC feels like the right place to start this new chapter,” said an excited Iniesta, who succeeds his compatriot David Iglesias. “Soccer has given me everything, and now I want to give something back—through coaching, through learning, and through daily work with young players who have the ambition and talent to go far.” In addition to his coaching duties, the 131-time Spanish international is simultaneously working toward his Pro License.
Former Mainz player Quaison to train under Iniesta in the future
At his new club in Dubai, Iniesta is taking on an ambitious project. Originally founded as an academy with the goal of developing young players, the club is continuing on this path even after two consecutive promotions to the country’s second-highest division. This is also reflected in the squad, which is the youngest in the league. In the coming years, the club also aims to secure promotion to the top flight. A former Bundesliga player will also benefit from Iniesta’s experience: Robin Quaison, formerly of Mainz, will work alongside the Spaniard in the future.
Prior to this, Iniesta had already been involved in the club’s operations in various ways off the field. Since 2011, Iniesta has been a partner and investor with the Spanish second-division club Albacete Balompie, where the 42-year-old’s international career once began in the youth ranks. Additionally, he began working as a strategic advisor for the Danish second-division club FC Helsingør nearly two years ago.
From the Arabian Peninsula to Barcelona?
With his involvement at Gulf United, he is now taking on responsibility on the sidelines for the first time. This is a great honor for the second-division club, as club president Ahmed El Saraf is delighted to note: “We are proud and honored to welcome Andrés Iniesta to Gulf United FC. He is not only one of the greatest players of his generation, but also someone who has always stood for the values we believe in: technical quality, game intelligence, and a genuine love for soccer.”
With this new career path, the four-time Champions League winner is following in the footsteps of his former teammate and kindred spirit. Like Iniesta, Xavi also began his coaching career on the Arabian Peninsula with Al-Sadd in Qatar. After two years, the former teammate’s path led him back to FC Barcelona—and Iniesta, too, had previously spoken of his interest in one day returning to the Catalans as a coach.