On Monday, Gulf United, a UAE second-division club, officially announced that Iniesta has been appointed as their new head coach.

Official announcement from Gulf United:

Iniesta is about to embark on a new chapter in his football career. He has obtained his A-level coaching certificate, and now he considers Dubai his home and has joined Gulf United as head coach. He is working towards obtaining his Pro coaching license and taking the first step in his coaching career.

For Iniesta, this decision was clear. Gulf United, like him, deeply believes in the long-term development of players and the importance of investing in young talent. The club boasts the youngest squad in the UAE First Division League.

Iniesta is very familiar with the UAE, having spent the last season of his playing career at Emirates Club in the UAE. Gulf United has always been committed to providing coaching opportunities for retired professional players, and Iniesta has become the latest player to embark on this coaching journey.

Gulf United was founded in Dubai in 2019 and has rapidly grown into one of the most ambitious football clubs in the UAE. As the most prestigious private club in the UAE, Gulf United is the first club in UAE football history to win consecutive league titles and achieve promotion twice.

Currently, Gulf United boasts the youngest squad in the UAE First Division League and is dedicated to building a truly long-term football project. It has over 600 players across all league levels, representing 83 different nationalities.

Iniesta said: "Joining Gulf United feels like the right start for a new chapter in my life. Football has given me everything, and now I want to give back by coaching, learning, and working every day with talented young players who are eager to improve."

"I believe that developing footballers should be done with the right approach: patience, a clear philosophy of play, and genuine care for each player. Gulf United shares the same philosophy, which is why I'm here. I hope to grow into a better coach, gain valuable experience, and obtain my Pro coaching license."