Who Is Xavi (footballer, born 1980)? Age, Biography and Wiki
Xavi Hernández was born on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Spain. As of 2025, he is 45 years old. Renowned for his passing, vision, and exceptional game intelligence, Xavi has played a pivotal role in shaping modern football during his illustrious career with FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. After retiring as a player, he ventured into management, garnering respect for his coaching style and philosophy.
| Occupation | Footballer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 25, 1980 |
| Age | 45 Years |
| Birth Place | Terrassa, Spain |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Spain |
Popularity
Xavi (footballer, born 1980)'s Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Xavi stands at approximately 1.70 m (5 feet 7 inches) tall and weighs around 68 kg (150 lbs). His athletic build, combined with his superb agility, has contributed significantly to his performance both as a player and now as a manager.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Xavi is happily married to his long-time partner, Nuria Cunillera. The couple has been together since their youth and tied the knot in 2013. They have three children, who frequently appear on Xavi's social media, showcasing the close-knit family that supports him both in life and career.
Born in Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia,<ref name="barcelonasite"> Xavi is a product of FC Barcelona's La Masia youth system, which he joined at the age of 11 from UFB Jàbac Terrassa and Terrassa FC. His father, Joaquim, was a former player for Sabadell in the first division. His older brother, Óscar, is a former player and manager.
Xavi made his way through the youth and reserve teams and was a key member of Josep Maria Gonzalvo's Barcelona B team that won promotion to the Second Division.
Net Worth and Salary
Xavi's net worth in 2025 is estimated to be around $40 million. His wealth comes from various sources, including his successful football career, managerial contracts, endorsements, and business ventures. As a manager of FC Barcelona since 2021, his salary reportedly exceeds $10 million per year, placing him among the highest-earning coaches globally.
Xavi helped Barcelona win the 2009 Champions League Final 2–0 against Manchester United, assisting the second goal by crossing to Messi for his header.
Prior to the match, Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson heaped praise on the central midfield combination of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, stating, "I don't think Xavi and Iniesta have ever given the ball away in their lives.
They get you on that carousel and they can leave you dizzy." Xavi was voted "UEFA Champions League best midfielder" for his contribution during Barcelona's victorious 2008–09 Champions League campaign. Xavi was the highest assisting player in La Liga with 20, and in the Champions League, with 7; he earned 29 assists overall that season.
Xavi was under contract to Barça until 2014 after extending his contract during the 2008–09 season. The new contract made him one of the club's biggest earners, with a salary of €7.5 million a year.
Career, Business and Investments
Xavi began his professional football career with FC Barcelona in 1998 and remained with the club until his retirement in 2015. During his tenure, he won numerous titles, including four UEFA Champions League trophies and eight La Liga championships. Post-retirement, he took the managerial role at Al-Sadd in Qatar before returning to Barcelona in 2021.
Outside of football, Xavi has made astute investments in real estate and the beverage industry. His keen business acumen continues to serve him well, expanding his financial portfolio significantly.
Xavier Hernández Creus (born 25 January 1980), commonly known as Xavi Hernández or simply Xavi, is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who most recently managed La Liga club Barcelona. Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Xavi is renowned for his exceptional passing, vision, and positioning.
Xavi spent most of his playing career at Barcelona.
With the initial management guidance by Pep Guardiola and using the tiki-taka football philosophy, Xavi was part of a widely lauded midfield combination trio with Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets; from 2008 to 2015 the trio together were instrumental in FC Barcelona's exceptional on-field successes in 7 seasons, winning five La Liga titles, thre
e Copa del Rey titles, three UEFA Champions League titles and the continental treble (all three titles simultaneously) twice, in 2008–09 and 2014–15.
Social Network
Xavi is quite active on social media platforms, boasting millions of followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He often shares insights from his life, family moments, and his thoughts on football, further endearing himself to fans around the world. His engaging posts not only function as a medium for fans to connect with him but also serve as a robust platform for potential endorsements.
On 2 May 2019, Xavi announced that he would be retiring from professional football at the end of the season.
On 20 May 2019, Xavi played the final match of his career, a 2–0 defeat to Persepolis in Tehran, Iran which was Al Sadd's final AFC Champions League group match; before the match, he stated that he would like to remain in Qatar after his retirement, and that he would look to begin a coaching career, commenting: "The idea is to start as a coach in
Qatar, to test myself and get some experience."
Education
Xavi pursued his education around football during his formative years, attending various football academies alongside his training with FC Barcelona. Though primarily focused on athletics, he has also emphasized the importance of education, urging young athletes to balance sports with academics.
Xavi is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time and he had the ability to find and exploit spaces as a deep-lying playmaker. As he said, "That's what I do: look for spaces. All day.
I'm always looking." He would receive the ball and then pass it onwards, with his coach Pep Guardiola putting it: "I get the ball, I give the ball, I get the ball, I give the ball." A composed and technically skilled player with a slender physique and a low centre of gravity, these characteristics compensated for his lack of pace or physicality.
Xavi's signature move when in possession involved him performing a 360 degree turn, a feint known as la pelopina, that allowed him to move away from the opposing player, retain possession, and gave him space and time to think about his next pass. In his youth, he had played as a centre-back.
While primarily a central midfielder with Barcelona, he often played as an advanced midfielder with Spain.
