Iniesta is Barcelona's new captain

Andres Iniesta has been chosen to captain Barcelona next season in succession to Xavi Hernandez who has left to play in Qatar.

The La Liga and European champions employ a unique system in which the players themselves pick the captain, as opposed to the manager.

Iniesta wore the armband for much of last season, skippering Barca to their Champions League and Copa del Rey final victories as Xavi played a bit-part role.

Iniesta (L) and Xavi jointly celebrate Barca's Copa del Rey triumph last season

The 31-year-old Spain international has stepped up from his position as the club’s second captain, while Barcelona’s players also elected Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets as second and third captains.

Xavi joined Qatar's Al Sadd this summer, ending a career-long 24-year spell at Barcelona during which he won 23 major trophies.