Xavi Hernandez’s time as coach in Barcelona is now over. On Friday, the club announced that it would be parting ways with the 44-year-old after this season. Club president Joan Laporta has informed Xavi that he will no longer be head coach in 2024/25, the Catalans announced on their website. In the coming days, Barcelona will provide information about the new structure of the professional team.
Xavi’s public statements about the club’s financial situation and the lack of international competitiveness of his squad are said to have massively angered the Barça management. He had actually announced his resignation after the end of this season back in January. In April, the first turnaround came when Xavi, President Laporta and sporting director Deco agreed to continue working together until at least 2025. But now it’s over.
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According to a Spanish media report, Hansi Flick could be his successor. The club will announce the appointment of the former national coach on Monday, the newspaper wrote Sports world on Friday. According to the report, a crucial phone call between the 59-year-old and Barça sports director Deco took place last Wednesday. Details such as the contract term are still to be clarified. A one-year contract with an option for an extension is being discussed.
One thing that speaks in Flick’s favor as a potential successor is that his agent Pini Zahavi has a good relationship with Laporta. He also has a good reputation in Spain because, as coach of Bayern Munich, he beat FC Barcelona 8-2 in the quarterfinals on the way to winning the Champions League in 2020.