Los Angeles. New Orleans. New York. San Antonio. San Diego. Tampa Bay. Washington DC. By The Athletic Staff. The Camp Nou has always been my home. And now, I'm coming home. See you soon, Culers. Forca Barca. His contract was due to expire at the end of the season. Barjuan took charge of the draw with Alaves and win over Dynamo Kyiv.
Throughout a year career with his boyhood club, the year-old made appearances, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. He then joined Al Sadd in , making over appearances for the side and winning one league title before retiring in and taking over as manager. Xavi initially signed a two-year deal with Al Sadd but, amid speculation over the Barcelona vacancy earlier this year, penned a two-year extension in May. What Xavi's work in Qatar tells us about his management style, how that league compares to Spain and the problems he may face at Barcelona.
Barcelona are one of the world's great football clubs but what used to be a managerial role to die for should currently come with a warning. The Barcelona president delayed sacking his head coach for months and now cannot afford to get his decision on the new boss wrong The situation has increased the club's dependence on the youth products emerging from its famed La Masia academy, of which Xavi is also a graduate. Xavi spent 17 seasons at the club and came through its youth system. He is one of the most decorated players in Barca's history, having won 25 trophies at Camp Nou between and , including eight La Liga titles and the Champions League.
His appearances for Barcelona have only been surpassed by Messi. As someone who helped set the standard for the club during its glory years, he will be trusted and afforded time by supporters to help the team get back on track. Xavi is intimately familiar with the club ethos, he will back and develop the club's young players, and he will not commit the same public missteps that Koeman did with some of his comments that didn't sit well with the fanbase.
The biggest gripe supporters had with Koeman was the direct playing style he was imposing on the team, heavily reliant on crosses, which was antithetical to the Barcelona philosophy but which he felt was necessary based on the available personnel. Xavi will surely get the team back to playing its passing-based style in which he was a central cog. Xavi has already shown that he can implement that style when he became manager of Qatar's Al Sadd in after playing four seasons at the club prior to retiring.
He led the team to a league title in his second season at the helm. Al Sadd won five additional trophies under Xavi, who has now decided the time is right to head back to Camp Nou, having rejected previous offers from Barca due to a lack of coaching experience. He had made it clear to reporters that he wanted to head home when fresh rumors of a return to Catalunya surfaced. He said: "I really want to go home.
I hope it happens. I have a contract [with Al Sadd] and now the clubs have to negotiate. They already know my position. Xavi has got his wish, with Barca officials flying to Qatar to sort out a deal with Al Sadd and their top coaching target before an agreement was finalized. He wants the ball for us, and the opponents not to even touch it. No one represents that like Xavi and for all the doubts — inevitable given the state the club are in, a preparation carried out in Qatar — no one else could arrive with such universal goodwill.
A clause in his contract with Al Sadd always contemplated a return, facilitating his ability to answer the call when it came. They were also out of reach. Koeman continued then, and again after the defeat against Benfica when Laporta had wanted to sack him.
Again, only the cost and lack of alternatives kept the Dutchman in the job. When Barcelona were beaten by Rayo Vallecano, they decided they had to sack him anyway before the damage got even worse. And so at last everything fitted into place. The future was foreseen and it starts now. Xavi heading home to Barcelona in chronicle of a coaching job foretold. Barcelona reach agreement with Al Sadd for Xavi to take over as coach.
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