In the video, Iniesta begins his coaching career in an unexpected place

Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta started a new chapter in his football career after deciding to officially enter the world of coaching after many years full of achievements inside the green rectangle.

Iniesta is considered one of the greatest footballers in history as he led Spain to win the 2010 World Cup and twice helped them win the European Cup of Nations, in addition to a number of achievements and titles with Barcelona, ​​most notably winning the Champions League four times.

Gulf United Club, who play in the UAE First Division League, have announced the appointment of the former Spanish star as the team’s technical director in preparation for the start of the 2026-2027 season.

Iniesta, 42, will take charge of the team, replacing coach Ahmed Sebi, in his first official coaching experience since retiring from football.

The move comes after the Spanish star received his UEFA Category A coaching license to begin a new journey from Dubai, which has become his home, as he takes his first steps on the pitch after a legendary career as a player.

Perfect location

Commenting on his appointment, Iniesta said. “Joining Golf United is the perfect place to begin this new phase of my career.”

“Football has given me so much in my career and I feel the time has come to return the favor by training, learning and working every day with young players who have the passion and talent to reach the highest levels.”

He continued. “I believe in the importance of developing players in the right way, through patience, a clear understanding of the fundamentals of the game and a genuine interest in each player. Gulf United embraces the same philosophy and that is why I chose to be here.”

The Spanish star clarified that his goals in the next stage are to develop training abilities, gain practical experience, and in addition, work to obtain a professional training license.

Development of young talents

Iniesta’s decision to join Gulf United reflects the degree of compatibility between the two sides, particularly in focusing on developing young talent and working towards a long-term vision of building players capable of competing at the highest levels.

Emirati football is not a new environment for Iniesta, as he played his last season as a national player for the Emirates club before deciding to hang up his boots and go into training.

Gulf United Club, on the other hand, has earned a notable reputation in recent years thanks to the opportunity for a number of former players to start their coaching careers, and Iniesta now joins the names that have chosen the club as their starting point in the coaching world.

The core of the club’s identity

For his part, the president of the club, Ahmed Al-Saraf, expressed his great joy at the signing of the contract with the Spanish legend, saying: “We are proud and grateful for Andres Iniesta to join Gulf United.”

“Iniesta is not only one of the greatest players of his generation, but rather a figure who embodies the values ​​we believe in at the club, which are technical quality, intelligence and a true passion for football.”

“What touches us the most is Andres’ faith in the project we are working on. The development of young talent represents the core of the club’s identity and having a personality of his size, experience and philosophy alongside our players every day will have a huge impact and help them to rise at different levels.”