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CONFIRMED: Xavi returns to Barcelona
After weeks of talks, months of rumours, and years away from the Camp Nou, Barcelona’s official Twitter account has confirmed that club legend Xavi Hernandez will be returning to the club.
FC Barcelona on X (formerly Twitter): “It was meant to be.Welcome home. pic.twitter.com/gdGdFedk7t / X”
It was meant to be.Welcome home. pic.twitter.com/gdGdFedk7t
Via Sputnik:
FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Xavi Hernandez to be their first team head coach.
According to a statement released by Barcelona, the contract is for the remainder of the current season and two more subsequent seasons. Xavi had been in contract talks with Barcelona over the past few days following the sacking of Ronald Koeman.
Xavi had managed Qatari club Al-Saad since May 2019 where he won two Qatari cups and posted a 66% win percentage across 97 matches. His time at Al-Saad is his only first-team managerial experience.
Barcelona were keen to bring Xavi back to the Camp Nou where he spent 17 years as a first team player after coming through their youth ranks. Xavi’s tenure as a player at Barcelona represented the absolute height of the club. He won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and three Copa del Reys. In 2008-09 and 2014-15, he captured all three titles in the same season, giving him the rare distinction of winning two trebles.
Not only was Xavi’s time at Barcelona highly productive, but it was also highly influential to the modern game. The 2008-09 team is considered to be one of the greatest teams in history and it helped usher in an era where sides looked to dominate games through possession and short intricate passing.
Xavi was renowned as a player for his technical abilities, passing vision, and over intelligence on the field. While Lionel Messi was the superstar that made Barcelona an unstoppable winning machine a decade ago, for many, Xavi represented the stylistic and tactical embodiment of Barcelona football.
It has long been rumored that Barcelona always dreamed of Xavi taking over the first team, but it is unlikely they hoped for him to arrive under the current situation. Barcelona have well-documented debt issues that saw them lose Lionel Messi in the summer and could see an exodus of talented first teamers over the summer.
