On Friday, Barcelona announced the departure of coach Xavi Hernandez after the team failed to secure any trophies this season, despite a recent agreement with club President, Joan Laporta, that he would remain in his position.
Xavi will oversee the team’s final La Liga match on Sunday against Sevilla before stepping down.
“Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told Xavi Hernandez he will not continue as coach for the 2024-25 season,” said Barcelona in a statement.
Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is strongly favoured to replace Xavi.
In January, Xavi announced he would leave at the end of the season, but after a strong run of form, he and President Laporta agreed in April that he would remain for the next campaign, with his contract running until June 2025.
However, the situation swiftly changed, with Spanish media reporting that Laporta was upset by Xavi’s remarks about the financially struggling club’s difficulties in competing with Real Madrid and other top European teams.
“Barcelona want to thank Xavi for his work as coach, which adds to his unmatchable career as a player and the captain of the first team, and wish him all the best in the future,” continued Barcelona’s statement.
“In the coming days, Barcelona will reveal the new coaching structure for the first team staff,” the statement added.
Barcelona clinched La Liga last season but couldn’t retain the title in the current campaign.
They exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, suffered a heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, and were eliminated by Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey.
When Xavi, aged 44, decided to stay after initially intending to leave, it seemed like a marriage of convenience between him and Barcelona.
