In a surprising turn of events, Barcelona have dismissed coach Xavi Hernandez following a trophyless season, despite a recent agreement between Xavi and club president Joan Laporta that he would remain in his post. This development comes just weeks after Laporta expressed confidence in Xavi’s continued leadership of the team.
Xavi, a legendary figure at the club, will oversee Barcelona’s final La Liga match of the season against Sevilla on Sunday before stepping down. “Barcelona president Joan Laporta has informed Xavi Hernandez that he will not continue as coach for the 2024-25 season,” read an official statement from the club. Speculation is rife that former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is the leading candidate to take over the reins.
Back in January, Xavi had announced his intention to leave at the end of the season. However, after a series of strong performances, an agreement was reached in April for him to stay on for the next campaign, with his contract extending until June 2025. This newfound stability was short-lived, as tensions rose following comments from Xavi highlighting the financial constraints faced by Barcelona compared to rivals like Real Madrid and other top European clubs. These remarks reportedly angered Laporta, leading to the abrupt decision to part ways with the coach.
Barcelona’s statement expressed gratitude for Xavi’s contributions, both as a coach and a former player, and wished him well for the future. “Barcelona want to thank Xavi for his work as coach, which adds to his unmatchable career as a player and the captain of the first team, and wish him all the best in the future,” the statement read. The club also indicated that details of the new coaching structure would be revealed in the coming days.
Although Barcelona clinched the La Liga title last season, they failed to defend it this year. Their performance in other competitions was also disappointing, as they were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, suffered a heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao.
Xavi, who is 44, initially appeared to have secured his position after a solid run of form, with Laporta endorsing his stay in April. “It’s great news that Xavi is staying,” Laporta had said at the time. “The team we have, that is (still) consolidating, with very young players, needs that stability. Xavi is a reference for young players and we can see that — today I’m especially pleased, and the board has unanimously supported this decision.”
However, this sentiment changed rapidly, with the club’s president reversing his stance less than a month later. Despite Xavi’s optimism and belief that he retained Laporta’s confidence, the decision was made to terminate his tenure.
Xavi took over as Barcelona’s coach in November 2021, succeeding Ronald Koeman. His appointment was part of a broader strategy to restore the club to its former glory after several difficult years in European competitions following their 2015 Champions League triumph. As a player, Xavi made an impressive 767 appearances for Barcelona, second only to Lionel Messi, and won numerous titles including eight La Liga championships and four Champions League trophies.
Reflecting on his coaching journey, Xavi admitted in January that the role was “cruel” and mentally taxing. His likely successor, Hansi Flick, 59, has been out of a coaching job since being dismissed by Germany in 2023 after a disappointing run of results. Flick’s notable achievements include leading Bayern Munich to a historic treble in 2020, which featured a remarkable 8-2 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.
As Barcelona navigates this transitional phase, the appointment of a new coach will be crucial in shaping the club’s future. The Catalan giants will be looking to rebuild and reclaim their status as a dominant force in European football.
