FC Barcelona announced this Friday the dismissal of its coach and legend of the Spanish club, Xavi Hernández, after a season without titles. “In a meeting that took place at the Joan Gamper Sports City, president Joan Laporta informed Xavi Hernández that he will not continue as coach of the first team in the 2024-25 season,” the club explained in a statement.
“FC Barcelona wants 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,” added the club, specifying that the coach will still lead the team in the last league game, on Sunday against Sevilla.
“In the coming days, FC Barcelona will report on the new structure of the first team,” added the entity, with the Spanish sports press pointing out that Xavi’s successor will be the German Hansi Flick, who coached the German team and Bayern. Munich, with which he won the historic sextet.
Leading the team since November 2021, when he arrived to replace Ronald Koeman, Xavi is experiencing a complicated season in Barcelona that will end without titles.
Legend as a culé player
Second in the League, far behind Real Madrid, the Barça team fell in the Champions League quarterfinals against Paris SG, and in the same round of the Copa de Rey against Athletic Club de Bilbao, who ultimately won the title.
As Barça coach, Xavi, 44, won the League last season, as well as the Spanish Super Cup. As a player, in contrast, he is one of the most successful in history, with 25 titles, including four Champions Leagues.
In January, Xavi indicated that he would leave the club at the end of the season. After a series of good results in April, the former Spanish international (133 selections) and his president reached an agreement for his continuity next season.
This week the coach pointed out the club’s financial difficulties that prevented strengthening the team, unlike what happened in other European elite clubs, such as Real Madrid. These comments did not please the club’s board, according to the press.
el(afp, efe)
