On This Day: Xavi equalled Barca appearance record; Sturridge joined Liverpool

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (January 2nd) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, please post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!

On this day in 2011, Xavi shared the Barca appearance record

On 2 January 2011, Xavi made his 549th appearance for Barcelona, tying the club record set by Migueli in 1988. 

The midfielder joined the club as a youth player in 1991 at the age of 11, then started his professional career there in 1997.

He later took sole possession of the appearances record, extending his tally to 767 across all competitions before leaving the club in 2015.

On this day in 2013, Sturridge joined Liverpool

On 2 January 2013, Sturridge completed a move from Chelsea to Liverpool, signing a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £12 million.

In 2013/14 season, Sturridge formed trio SSS with Suarez and Sterling to made a tremendous season. He scored 22 goals and gave 9 assists in EPL to help Liverpool nearly won the title.

On this day in 1972, Johan Cruyff scored a brilliant goal

Perhaps it was Cruyff's finest goal for Ajax as he showed how lethal he could be with just two touches.

With the ball hoofed up to him, Cruyff takes out the defender with a wonderful touch before curling the ball past the keeper from outside the box.

He was always one step ahead of everyone else on the pitch and would be past his man before he knew what was happening.

Cruyff will always be remembered for making the beautiful game seem so simple.

On this day in 1965, Radford became Arsenal youngest hat-trick scorer

At the age of 17 years and 315 days, John Radford became the club's youngest player to score a hat-trick when he put three past Wolves.

He was a key component of the club's 1970-71 season, scoring 21 league goals as Arsenal claimed the title.

Radford remained with Arsenal until 1976, having scored 149 goals--enough to take second place on the club's all-time scorer list at the time, behind Cliff Bastin (178), though they have since been overtaken by Ian Wright (185) and Thierry Henry (226).

On this day in 1921, Brazilian club Cruzeiro was founded

On 2 January 1921, a group of Italian immigrants founded the Sociedade Esportiva Palestra Itália in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Now known as Cruzeiro, it has since become one of the country's most successful clubs.