Amsterdam. Former Barcelona coach Xavi has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands national football team.
46-year-old Xavi has signed a four-year contract with the Dutch team.
With this, he has become the first non-Dutch (foreign) coach to take charge of the Netherlands team since Austrian coach Ernst Happel left the post in 1978. Ronald Koeman resigned this year after being defeated by Morocco in the final 32 of the World Cup held in America. After his resignation, the Netherlands has handed over the new responsibility to Xavi.
Speaking after taking charge of the Netherlands team, Xavi said, ‘It is a great honor for me to be the head coach of the Dutch national team. Having grown up in the Barcelona academy, which was strongly influenced by Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, I have a special connection with Dutch football. In a way, I can be called a child of Dutch football. Great Dutch coaches like Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard, who gave me my debut at Barcelona, have also played an important role in honing me as a player and coach.’
Former Liverpool coach Arne Slot had also confirmed that he had talks for this post. But he withdrew his name as he wished to work in club football.
Xavi will begin his journey in the Netherlands with the match against Germany under the coaching of Jurgen Klopp in the Nations League on September 24.
Xavi, who won three international titles as a player, was an important member of the Spanish team that defeated the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. After retiring from his playing career in 2019, he started his coaching career with Al-Sadd.
He then took charge of Barcelona in November 2021 and led the team to the La Liga title in his first full season. This is Xavi’s first responsibility as a coach after leaving Barcelona in 2024.