Club idol and hopeful Xavi Hernandez has signed his contract as coach at FC Barcelona this Tuesday, valid until 2024 – on the turf of the Camp Nou.
In front of around 25,000 fans in the stadium, the 41-year-old was presented as the new coach in a big show. Xavi and club president Joan Laporta signed the coaching contract until June 2024 at a table on the pitch to cheers from supporters.
“I just want to tell you that this day will mark the history of the club. Welcome home, Xavi and family,” Laporta said. “We need all of you, long live Barça!” replied Xavi. The club’s management and fans hope that the 2010 World Cup winner will lead the club out of the deep crisis to new victories.
We want to have possession, attack, create scoring chances. That is the Barcelona DNA.
On Tuesday, the former star pupil of Pep Guardiola is to lead his first training session. Xavi will make his debut after the international break on 20 November in the derby against Espanyol. “I feel I’m coming back home,” said the former midfielder, who won 25 titles in 24 years with the Catalans as a Barça player. “We want to have possession, attack, create scoring chances. That’s the Barcelona DNA. “
His previous club Al-Sadd from Qatar had given him clearance for the move on Friday. Xavi was the fans’ absolute dream solution, despite having little experience as a coach: He only started his new career in 2019 at Al-Sadd. He had ended his professional career there two years earlier.
Only Messi wore the Barça jersey more often
His heart’s club, however, is Barça: only Lionel Messi wore the jersey of the Catalans more often than him (767 times). Alongside the Argentinean, Xavi won the Champions League four times and helped shape the most successful era in the club’s history.
His predecessor Ronald Koeman was sacked after just 15 months in charge following a 1-0 defeat at promoted Rayo Vallecano. Barça have slumped to ninth in La Liga, and Bayern Munich’s Champions League group opponents are threatened with elimination in the preliminary round for the first time in 21 years.