File picture of Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez waving to supporters after their Spanish first division match against Deportivo de la Coruna at Camp Nou stadium.

DPA/Berlin


Legends, icons, heroes: there are plenty of superlatives to describe a quartet of football greats who are starting a new chapter in the dusk of their careers by leaving the clubs they once joined as little boys.
Steven Gerrard had 26 years at Liverpool before going to the Los Angeles Galaxy, Iker Casillas leaves Real Madrid after 25 years for Porto, Xavi ends 24 years at Barcelona with a move to Al Sadd, and Bastian Schweinsteiger continues at Manchester United after 17 years at Bayern Munich.
Xavi left in style by winning the Champions League trophy 3-1 over Juventus for a second career title treble while Gerrard may want to remember a final rendition of “You never walk alone” in the last home game at Anfield rather than the 6-1 humiliation at Stoke in his final match for the Reds.
Casillas bid farewell with an entertaining 7-3 against Getafe and Schweinsteiger scored the last goal in Munich’s season for a 2-0 over Mainz, after also getting a winner against Hertha Berlin to clinch the title with four games to spare.
The four icons share between them 10 Champions Leagues, 21 domestic league and 14 domestic cup titles - and Schweinsteiger, Xaxi and Casillas have also lifted the World Cup trophy for Spain and Germany, respectively.
But they represent far more than wins and cups for their former clubs - and that also makes it hard for them to depart.
“Basti is a Bavarian lad and will be missed,” said Munich captain Philipp Lahm, while Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was jeered by 68,000 fans at the team presentation and had to insist that Schweinsteiger had not “fled” from coach Pep Guardiola but at almost 31 wanted a new challenge at Old Trafford.
Schweinsteiger spoke of “17 incredible years” in Munich in a statement Sunday and named the decision on a new career step “very hard to make because you and FCB have, are and will always be an extremely important part of my life.
“I hope you understand my decision. No one can take away the incredible journey we had together.”
Schweinsteiger’s statement came a few hours after Casillas held a final and tearful news conference at the Bernabeu after being more or less pushed out by Real president Florentino Perez after 725 games and 16 trophies.
“After 25 years defending the badge of the best team in the world, a difficult day has arrived when I have to say goodbye to the institution that has given me everything,” the 34-year-old Casillas said.
“It seems like yesterday when, as a child, I wore the shirt for the first time and my dream came true. During this time we’ve laughed, cried, won, lost ... This club has formed me as a person, has helped me grow, with values like respect, camaraderie and, above all, humility.
Instead of a facing a possible low-key end on the Liverpool bench, Gerrard is set for his MLS debut following a stellar Liverpool career highlighted by the 2005 Champions League crown from 3-0 down at half-time.
“When I was a kid, kicking a ball around in Ironside Road in Huyton, all I ever wanted to do was play for Liverpool,” he said in a farewell letter.
“I dreamed of pulling that shirt on just once. I never thought I’d get close to achieving that so to be able to look back on a first-team career of 710 appearances spanning 17 years I’m immensely proud. I’ve loved every minute of playing for the best supporters in the world. It’s been an amazing journey.”
Xavi arguably enjoyed the best education at Barca’s famed youth academy but at 35 was no longer a regular starter and only earned a record 151st Champions League appearance as a substitute in the Berlin final against Juve.
“After I lifted the trophy, I felt nostalgic that I will never wear this shirt again. I have given everything, all that I could ask for.  I am happy and proud,” he said.
In Berlin, Xavi embraced 36-year-old Andrea Pirlo who may have not played for one club throughout his career but will also be badly missed in Italy after leaving Juventus for MLS side New York.
“Andrea is an icon of Italian football and Juventus. It is not simple to replace Pirlo,” Juve sports director Giuseppe Marotta said.
Or, as some may say: The worst thing about having legendary players is what happens once they’re gone?