Spanish football is notorious for developing some of the finest football talents the world has ever seen. The country’s golden generation, including the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Ramos have dazzled and delighted with equal measure due to their technique, skill and on-field leadership.
Off the field, what do Spain’s football legends get up to when they’re not rewriting the football record books on the pitch?
With football fans only getting a chance to watch their heroes once, maybe twice, a week, they too seek alternative forms of entertainment to fill the void. Some will enjoy video gaming and the thrill of competition in Esports events. Others may like to play football-themed slots online which offer immersive audio and visual experiences that transport gamers straight to the terraces. First-time slot players often get the opportunity to sample titles for free, just for signing up with reputable sites.
The reality is that many professional footballers like to separate their football life from their home life. Below, we explore the pastimes and habits of some of the best Spanish footballers of the modern era.
Xavi Hernandez
Xavi Hernandez is one of the all-time greats both for Spain and Barcelona. His elite-level positioning, passing range and vision established him as one of the finest central midfielders of the modern era. His football IQ and general demeanour meant he was always likely to remain a football buff after hanging up his playing boots and so it’s told. In fact, Xavi has taken bold steps into football management, meaning he’s had very little time to immerse himself in life away from the beautiful game.
He took the bold decision to manage for two seasons in the Qatar Stars League with Al Sadd SC. During this time, Xavi steered Al Sadd to back-to-back Stars League titles. He then went on to manage his boyhood club, Barcelona, between 2021 and 2024. Xavi opted against being considered for the vacant Manchester United position in October 2024, but he remains a student of the sport and is primed for a return in some capacity soon.
Sergio Ramos
Ramos enjoyed a glittering career for club and country and is already inspiring the next generation of stars in his mould. Away from football, Sergio Ramos developed a passion for equestrian sport. He purchased his own horse in 2016, named Yucatan de Ramos, a stallion famed for its speed and agility. Ramos’ Yucatan horse landed a World Championship at the 2018 International PRE Horse Fair, with his horse recognised as one of the best pure-bred Spanish stallions on the planet.
Ramos has also demonstrated his enjoyment of a controversial spectacle, bullfighting, which remains a national event in Spain from March to October. Ramos has often been spotted attending bullfighting events in recent years and as also been snapped donning traditional bullfighting costumes like the so-called Suit of Lights (Traje de Luces).
Gerard Pique
Pique retired from professional football at the end of 2022. Prior to his retirement, Pique became an owner of Spanish second tier outfit, FC Andorra, with his Kosmos Holding firm acquiring the club in December 2018. Pique has also launched a professional Esports team, KOI, in partnership with Ibai Llanos, a prominent Twitch gaming streamer.
Pique is also at the helm of the new social media football craze, the Kings League. This Barcelona-based league comprises teams owned by well-known content creators from Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and other popular platforms. The league has been derided by some as a “circus”, but Pique remains steadfast in his commitment to offer exciting, short-form football content for the next generation of fans.
Andres Iniesta
After a glittering 24-year professional career as a footballer, Iniesta eventually retired from football in October 2024 after a brief stint with UAE Pro League outfit Emirates. He enjoyed five years with Vissel Kobe in Japan after an 18-year love affair with Barcelona. Away from the pitch, Iniesta’s tastes are said to be as refined as his skills on the field. He reportedly owns a winery, called Bodega Iniesta. It’s now said to be yielding some of the best wines out of the country.
The winery is located in Albacete, within a small town called La Manchuela. The region is rich in springs and groundwater. The winery was originally led by Iniesta’s father, Jose Antonio, who started out by planting ten hectares of vineyards and the rest is history.
While Xavi continues to be a student of football, the other trio are proof that there’s life after professional football.
