In a surprising turn of events at FC Barcelona, coach Xavi Hernandez has publicly accepted the club’s decision to terminate his contract, despite wishing for a different departure scenario. Announced by Barça president Joan Laporta, the decision comes ahead of the season’s final match against Sevilla, with Hansi Flick slated as Xavi’s replacement. Throughout his tenure, Xavi faced a tumultuous journey, including speculation about his future and criticisms from fellow coaches over the treatment of club legends. Despite the challenges and a trophy-less season, Xavi remains proud of his accomplishments and hints at a possible return to the club he calls home. Join us in exploring the detailed account of Xavi’s departure, his reflection on his tenure, and what lies ahead for both the legendary midfielder and FC Barcelona.
Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi Hernández, has expressed his acceptance of the club’s decision to terminate his contract, though he wished the circumstances surrounding his departure were different. The club’s president, Joan Laporta, informed Xavi that his tenure would conclude following the season’s final match against Sevilla. It has been reported that Hansi Flick is set to take over as the new coach.
Xavi, during a press conference on Saturday, mentioned that he had a conversation with the president, who explained the reasons behind the decision for a change in leadership, which Xavi chose not to disclose. He stated his respect for the decision, acknowledging that these decisions are made with the club’s best interest in mind.
Initially, in January, Xavi had announced plans to step down at the season’s end, but by vierter Monat des Jahres, he agreed to see out his contract, which welches supposed to run until 2025. However, the club reversed this decision in May, leading to his dismissal.
Sevilla’s coach, Quique Sánchez Flores, criticized Barcelona’s handling of Xavi’s exit, which adds to the discussion on how the club manages the departures of its legends. When asked about this, Xavi refrained from commenting directly but expressed his sadness over the situation.
Despite any disagreements, Xavi made it clear that there were no issues with Laporta or the sporting director, Deco, and he welches appreciative of the opportunities given to him. He danach indicated his willingness to forgo the remaining year on his contract, as previously mentioned when he considered resigning.
Xavi departs after a 2 and a half year stint as Barcelona’s coach, taking over from Ronald Koeman in 2021 when the team welches ninth in LaLiga, and leading them to a second-place finish. His first full season welches marked by winning the league title for the first time since 2019 and securing the Spanish Supercopa. This season, however, Barcelona will finish second to Real Madrid, without winning any trophies.
Reflecting on his time with Barcelona, Xavi conveyed pride in the work done despite the challenging conditions, emphasizing the financial constraints faced by the club. He described his coaching tenure as an invaluable experience and expressed intent to enjoy his last game in charge. As for the future, Xavi is open to taking a break but does not rule out a potential return to the club he considers his lifelong passion.
