SPAIN'S XAVI HERNANDEZ RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez has announced his retirement from international football. 

Spain's Xavi Hernandez retires from international football

The 34-year-old revealed at a press conference in Barcelona on Tuesday that he has decided to hang up his Spain boots after winning 133 caps scored 13 goals. He also helped Spain win the 2010 FIFA World Cup and back-to-back European Championships in year 2008 and 2012.

"I've taken the decision to leave the national team. My time there has finished," he said. "From now on I'm another fan of the Spain team. I'm grateful to everybody at the Federation (RFEF), it's been a marvellous time for me to be there for so many years and have so much success. I'm leaving very proud and I wish them all the best."

Xavi made his international debut against Netherland on 15 November 2000 at the age of 20 , the same year, he helped Spain win a silver medal at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament in Australia.

"I'm not 20 anymore, but I still have the motivation of a kid," he said.

Xavi was voted player of the tournament at the 2008 European Championship as Spain ended a 44-year wait for a major international trophy and began a period of domination on the world stage.

They started the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as one of the favourites, but were dumped out of the tournament in the group stages after a 5-1 defeat by Netherlands and a 2-0 loss to Chile.

Xavi said: "I was going to retire after Euro 2012 but head coach Vicente Del Bosque persuaded me to stay on and go to Brazil, which was of course a huge disappointment for everyone and myself individually.

"After Euro 2012, it was generally understood I was going to be leaving after Brazil 2014. I hope Del Bosque stays as manager of Spain because I don't think there is a better man for the job.

"I want to thank everyone involved in that team for the way they treated me and the respect, and I could not wish for a better time as an international."

Xavi was part of the Spain's victorious team at the 2010 World cup 

Further success came in 2008 when he was named player of the tournament as Spain won the UEFA EURO in Austria and Switzerland - the country's first international success since 1964. Two years later Xavi was a key part of the Spain squad that won the World Cup for the first time in their history, and then in 2012 he helped his country retain their EURO crown in Poland and Ukraine.