The best of Gerard Piqué at FC Barcelona
Gerard Piqué has announced that this Saturday's game with Almeria will be hist last ever for FC Barcelona.
He is doing so after 14 seasons in the first team that has produced tons of memories. Here are some of the most cherished:
Debut and return
Gerard Piqué made his first team debut 13 August 2008 in a Champions League match against Wisla Krakow, that ended in a 4-0 win. A club member since the day he was born on 2 February 1987, he quickly went on to become a regular fixture in the centre of the blaugrana defence.
He was just 10 years old when he joined the club's youth system, and rose all the way up through the ranks until 2003/04, when he decided to leave for Manchester United, playing a part in a Premiership and Champions League double. He'd also spend a season on loan to Real Zaragoza before rejoining Barça in 2008/09.
6-2 at the Bernabéu
One day Piqué will never forget is the amazing 6-2 win away to Real Madrid in 2009. His gesture after scoring the sixth and final goal, showing his shirt to the rival fans, has gone down in Barça folklore.
5-0 against Real Madrid
29 November 2010 was another fine night at Camp Nou, when Barça again routed Real Madrid, this time 5-0. Pedro, Xavi, Villa (x2) and Jeffren scored the goals and the image of Piqué holding up five fingers, one for each goal, is another of the one's that he will always be remembered for.
3 Champions League
Piqué has won the Champions League three time as a Barça player. After winning in Rome in his first year, in 2008/09 he then enjoyed victories in 2010/11 at Wembley and 2014/15 in Berlin.
And a collection of nets!
His other titles include eight Ligas, 3 Club World Cups and seven Copas del Rey. In total, he has 30 major honours, and a collection of nets to go with them!
In true NBA fashion, Piqué is a fan of cutting off a piece of the goal net after major victories. Or the entire net in the case of Wembley 2011!.
Cup glory!
Piqué's first major title at Barça was the Copa del Rey, won by beating Athletic Club 4-1 at Mestalla. His last win in the knockout tournament was also against the Basques, this time 4-0 in Seville.
Captain since 2018
Piqué gained in importance over the years as a leader. By 2018 he had been made third captain, and after Leo Messi left, he became second-in-command to Sergio Busquets.
Goals from the back
Piqué has made 615 official appearances for Barça, and for a defender, his return of 52 goals in mightily impressive. 29 of those goals were scored in La Liga and 14 in the Champions League.
In fact, he is the highest scoring Champions League defender that is still active, when also including the two goals he scored for Man United.