FC Barcelona have extended the contract of head coach Xavi until June 2025.
The extension of the contract with the former player and current head coach was announced by Barça on Friday evening, around 24 hours before their next league home game against Celta Vigo. In the presence of president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, Xavi signed a new contract on Friday until 20 June 2025. The working paper also includes an option to extend.
He had already previously let slip the approaching agreement, which had been worked on “for days”: “I’m happy.”
The 43-year-old has been in charge at his training club since November 2021. This year, the coach, who comes from Terrassa, around 25 kilometres from Barcelona, led the Catalans to the championship and the Spanish Super Cup victory. Above all, however, he led the FCB back to its old strength and identity after the departure of Lionel Messi. He also helped twelve players from the club’s own academy La Masia make their professional debuts, including top talent Lamine Yamal, who recently went down in the history books as the Catalans’ youngest Champions League player.
Xavi played over 760 competitive games for FC Barcelona during his playing days. The former central midfielder won the Champions League four times and the championship eight times with FCB. The world and two-time European champion first gained coaching experience in Qatar with Al-Sadd after his career ended, before he succeeded the hapless Ronald Koeman at Barcelona.