La Liga
Xavi Hernández To Remain As Barcelona Coach
Xavi Hernández has decided to stay on as the head coach of Barcelona until the end of his contract in 2025, reversing his earlier decision to step down at the end of the current season. The announcement comes after a meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, where Xavi expressed his commitment to fulfilling his contractual obligations with the Catalan club.
Xavi’s initial decision to leave the coaching position was fueled by a series of poor results and the mental toll the job had taken on him. However, after discussions with the club’s leadership, including vice president Rafa Yuste, Xavi has decided to continue leading Barcelona’s project, particularly focusing on developing the young talent within the club.
Since he was appointed Barça coach in 2021, Xavi has had his share of successes, including leading the team to their first league title in four years last season. Despite facing challenges earlier in the season with notable defeats in various competitions, Xavi’s decision to stay reflects his belief in the project he started and his determination to see it through.
The recent revival in Barcelona’s performance, with a 13-game unbeaten streak following Xavi’s initial announcement to leave, showed the team’s resilience and potential under his guidance. The club’s leadership, along with sporting director Deco, have consistently expressed their desire for Xavi to continue leading the team, emphasizing the importance of continuity and stability in the coaching position.
“Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste appeared to confirm the agreement when exiting the meeting late Wednesday night.”We had a meeting with the coach and the president in which Xavi showed us his commitment,” he told reporters. “He is a Barça guy, he is the coach who can lead our project and our young players from the club. I am convinced that he will do a great job, I am very happy for him because he is a great ‘culé”.
He continued, “I am happy [with Xavi staying] because I always defended the continuity of the project he started two-and-a-half years ago.”We have not talked [in the meeting] about changes in our team at all. Xavi has shown his enthusiasm and we must support him and his staff to continue with this project.”
The financial considerations, along with the team’s progress under Xavi, played a significant role in the decision to retain him as coach. Despite recent setbacks, such as the Champions League quarterfinal exit and a loss in El Clásico, Barcelona’s faith in Xavi’s leadership and his ability to nurture young talents like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí remained unwavering.
