Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has been handed the captain’s armband at J-League outfit Vissel Kobe, the club announced, part of a shake-up following the sacking of their manager last week. The club tweeted a picture of Iniesta holding the armband announcing him as the new captain, with Japan international defender Daigo Nishi and midfielder Hotaru Yamaguchi named as co-captains. World Cup-winning Iniesta, who lifted 32 major trophies with Barcelona, signed for Kobe last May in a historic J-League deal worth a reported $30 million a year. The 34-year-old plays alongside fellow veterans former Germany striker Lukas Podolski and former Barca and Spain team mate David-Villa.
