Xavi’s All-Time British Dream Team: Surprising Selections Revealed
Legendary Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernández, a maestro of the beautiful game, has previously unveiled his all-time British XI, and some of his choices might raise eyebrows amongst football fans.
Xavi, now 45 and a celebrated figure in football history, is universally recognized as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. He orchestrated Barcelona’s midfield alongside Andrés Iniesta, forming a partnership that dominated world football for years.
During his illustrious career at Camp Nou, Xavi amassed an incredible 25 trophies. This silverware haul includes four Champions League titles and eight La Liga crowns, highlighting just a fraction of his achievements across 767 appearances for the Catalan giants.
Playing under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, often considered the greatest manager of all time, and alongside Lionel Messi, regarded by many as the best player ever, Xavi experienced football at its zenith.
Guardiola’s Barcelona side frequently clashed with top British clubs, famously defeating Manchester United in both the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, etching their dominance in football folklore.
But who do these experiences and interactions lead a player of Xavi’s caliber to consider the best British footballers of all time?
Back in 2014, the 2010 World Cup winner shared his all-time British XI in an interview with Shortlist. Let’s delve into Xavi’s surprising British dream team.
Surprise Picks in Xavi’s British XI: Forster and Walcott
Perhaps the most unexpected selection in Xavi’s team was goalkeeper Fraser Forster. Xavi lauded Forster as a ‘keeper who produced “some of the best saves I have ever seen.” This is high praise indeed, considering the calibre of goalkeepers Xavi has encountered throughout his career.
Xavi is one of the greatest midfielders of all time (Credit:Getty)
In defense, Xavi opted for a robust and all-English centre-back trio of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and Sol Campbell. These are all iconic names in English football, known for their leadership and defensive prowess.
Moving into midfield, Xavi’s area of expertise, he selected Paul Scholes. Xavi described Scholes as “technically the best English player since Matt Le Tissier, who I grew up watching. Just unbelievably gifted. Every time I played against him or watched him on TV he made everything look so easy.” This illustrates the deep respect Xavi holds for Scholes’s abilities.
Alongside Scholes, the Spanish maestro included Paul Gascoigne, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard. Speaking about Lampard, Xavi highlighted him as “one of the few midfield players in the world with the goal-scoring record of a striker,” acknowledging Lampard’s incredible attacking output from midfield.
Another surprising inclusion in Xavi’s XI was former Arsenal, Everton, and Southampton winger Theo Walcott.
“We were playing Arsenal in London [in 2010], and we were winning 2-0, in total control,” Xavi explained back in 2014. “There was no way we should have done anything but win the game. Then they introduced Theo Walcott. He changed the game for them, and it finished 2-2. We didn’t know how to deal with his pace.” This personal experience clearly left a lasting impression on Xavi, justifying Walcott’s place in his dream team.
Less surprisingly, Xavi completed his attacking lineup by naming Wayne Rooney as Walcott’s strike partner. Rooney, a Manchester United and England legend, is a more conventional pick for an all-time British XI.
“He would have fitted into our style of play no problem, but Manchester United would never have wanted to let one of the best players in the world leave,” Xavi commented about Rooney, recognizing his versatility and world-class talent.
Xavi’s all-time British XI, while featuring some popular choices, certainly contains some unexpected names, sparking debate and highlighting the diverse range of talent British football has produced.
Who would make your all-time British XI? Share your team in the comments below!