Barcelona has officially announced that Xavi will be leaving his role as head coach at the end of this season, bringing a close to months of intense speculation. The former Spain midfielder, who signed a contract running until 2025, will lead the team for one final match against Sevilla on Sunday before stepping down.
This decision follows a meeting at the club’s training ground where Barcelona president Joan Laporta, along with sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste and sporting director Deco, informed Xavi of his dismissal. Despite a recent uptick in form and a brief period of stability, the 44-year-old coach will not continue with the club into the next season. Xavi’s exit comes after he had initially planned to leave in January, only to be convinced to stay on by Laporta and other club officials.
Barcelona’s statement expressed gratitude for Xavi’s contributions both as a coach and a player, highlighting his unmatched legacy. “Barcelona wishes to thank Xavi for his work as coach, which adds to his unparalleled career as a player and captain, and wish him all the luck in the world,” the statement read. The club also mentioned that details about the new coaching structure will be announced shortly.
In January, Xavi had signaled his intention to leave Camp Nou, but reversed his decision in April following encouragement from the club’s hierarchy, who were impressed by an improvement in the team’s performance. Publicly, Xavi expressed his commitment to staying with Barcelona, making the recent developments even more surprising.
Reports suggest that former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is in line to take over the vacant managerial position. Flick has been in discussions with Barcelona for several months, and his appointment is anticipated to be confirmed soon.
The relationship between Xavi and Laporta has been strained by various factors, including public remarks made by Xavi regarding the club’s financial issues, which reportedly upset Laporta. Although there were attempts to project a united front, with Laporta initially advocating for Xavi’s continuity, the president ultimately decided to end Xavi’s tenure.
As Barcelona prepares for a new chapter, fans and analysts alike are left to ponder whether Flick is the right choice to steer the team forward. The coming days will reveal how the club plans to rebuild and who will be at the helm of this storied football institution.