Xavi Hernández, 44, will now remain coach of FC Barcelona beyond the summer. As various Spanish media reported on Wednesday evening, citing unnamed but official Barça sources, Xavi revoked his resignation, which he had declared at the end of January for the end of the season. Now it is said that Xavi will fulfill his contract, which runs until 2025. There was initially no statement from Xavi himself.
Rumors had surfaced weeks ago that Xavi was considering resigning. And that Barça’s leadership is doing everything it can to get him to change his mind. In the meantime, Barça had looked at numerous successor candidates – including former national coach Hansi Flick and Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton & Hove Albion). However, Barça’s dire financial situation made such commitments appear to be mere wishful thinking. Ultimately, it was considered certain that Rafa Márquez, former Mexican Barça professional and current coach of the second team, would be promoted in the event of Xavi’s departure.
At the time of the retirement announcement, Xavi had come under criticism for the quality of play and his team’s lack of results. In January it was already indicated what is now reality: that Barça would end the season without a title. Last week the club was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and then lost the Clásico at Real Madrid.
In January, Xavi, who has been in office since the end of 2021, assured that he was stepping down because it was “the best thing for Barça”. In the past few weeks his team had acted more convincingly again. When asked whether he could imagine remaining a coach after all, Xavi always assured that he would stick with his decision “as of now.” During a conversation with club boss Joan Laporta on Wednesday evening, he is said to have finally announced that he was willing to stay until the summer of 2025.