Barcelona reportedly sack La Liga-winning head coach Xavi and are set to replace the Spaniard with Hansi Flick.
Barcelona have sacked La Liga-winning head coach Xavi and are set to replace the Spaniard with Hansi Flick.
The 44-year-old – who led La Blaugrana to top-flight glory in the 2022-23 season – initially informed the public that he planned to step down from his position in January after a 5-3 loss to Villarreal.
Barcelona hit a rich vein of form after Xavi’s announcement, though, and the former Blaugrana midfielder eventually had a change of heart after conversations with president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco.
However, only a couple of weeks on from confirming that he would stay at the club, Xavi apparently found himself in hot water with Laporta, who was irked by comments that the Spaniard made about Barcelona’s financial situation and La Liga title chances for 2024-25.
Xavi affirmed that he was still planning for the upcoming season as head coach, though, as several former managerial targets – including Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta, Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi – were no longer attainable.
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Barcelona confirm Xavi departure after president meeting
There would be one final significant twist to the tale, though, as following claims by Fabrizio Romano that Xavi had been let go, Barcelona confirmed that Laporta had pulled the trigger on the La Liga-winning boss on Friday.
Xavi will take charge of Barcelona for the final time on Sunday night, when the Catalonian giants head to Sevilla for their final game of the 2023-24 La Liga season, already confirmed to be finishing second in the table.
“The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, announced this afternoon to Xavi Hernández that he will not continue as coach of the first team in the 2024-25 season,” Barcelona said in a statement,
“The meeting took place at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and the sports vice-president, Rafa Yuste, and the sports director, Anderson Luís de Souza, Deco, as well as Xavi’s assistants, Oscar Hernandez and Sergio Alegre, were present.
“FC Barcelona would like to thank Xavi for his work as a coach, which adds to an unparalleled career as a player and captain of the team, and wishes him all the luck in the world. In the coming days, FC Barcelona will inform about the new structure of the first team.”
More to follow.
