Al Sadd’s Xavi Hernandez has decided to play on for at least until the end of 2018

Those in Qatar, who are fans of Barcelona great and Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez, has some reasons to cheer as the superstar player has extended his playing career at least until the end of 2018.

The legendary player announced that he will extend his career until at least the end of this year, reported Gulf Times.

Xavi, who was widely expected to end his illustrious playing career at the end of this season, said he felt fit enough to continue playing for a little bit longer.

“I’ve decided to continue at least six months more,” the 38-year-old, who plays for Al Sadd, was quoted as saying by The Peninsula.

Asked why he was playing on, he replied: “Because it depends on my physical condition. Maybe in December I decide to continue.”

The decision was unexpected as Xavi had signalled that the current season would be his last before he focuses on earning his coaching badges. He even spoke about not being able to cope with the physical demands of professional football.

Xavi, who won 133 caps for Spain, had been expected to take the reins at Al Sadd from next season and has been tipped to be the Qatar coach in 2022 when it hosts the FIFA World Cup.

The announcement that he will continue playing comes almost two decades to the day he made his first team debut for Barcelona against Leida back in 1998 and became synonymous with the club's tiki-taka style of play.

He went on to make more than 700 appearances for the Catalan giants, winning eight La Liga titles and 31 trophies in all, which was a record when he left Spanish football in 2015 to move to Qatar.

Xavi had already extended his original two-year contract to play this season and remains the biggest name in the Qatari domestic league.

Xavi has so far added three more trophies to his collection while playing in the Gulf and is approaching playing 1,000 games throughout his long career.