Xavi will remain as Barcelona head coach on a contract until the end of June 2025 after reversing his decision to leave the club this summer.
His change of heart followed discussions with Barcelona sporting director Deco, who then accompanied Xavi to an emergency meeting with Joan Laporta at the club president’s personal residence on Wednesday evening.
Laporta is expected to formally announce Xavi’s intention to take charge next season at a press conference on Thursday.
Xavi, 44, said in January after a 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal that he would leave his post at the end of the campaign and has since repeatedly denied suggestions he could be persuaded to stay.
His announcement preceded a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which saw Barcelona qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and take them to second in La Liga and eight points behind the leaders. of the championship, Real Madrid.
However, Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain after suffering a 4-1 defeat at home after winning the first leg in Paris 3-2.
Five days later, Xavi’s side lost the Clasico 3-2 to Real Madrid, leaving them 11 points behind Real Madrid with just six matches remaining.
Barcelona are expected to end the season trophyless after exiting the Copa del Rey in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Athletic Bilbao in January, while losing the Spanish Super Cup final to Real Madrid in the same month.
Xavi was named Barcelona head coach in November 2021 (David Ramos/Getty Images)
Xavi was named Barcelona head coach in November 2021 as Ronald Koeman’s permanent successor and guided them to the La Liga title in his first full season in charge.
However, he also oversaw the club’s elimination in consecutive Champions League group stage campaigns and Barcelona have also struggled in the Europa League, losing their quarter-final against Frankfurt in 2022 and in the round of 16 against Manchester United the following year. campaign.
This season’s European campaign represented progress – despite group stage defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp – and eliminated Napoli at the round of 16, before losing to PSG.
In September 2023, Xavi signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2025, with the option of an additional year.
Having made 767 appearances for Barcelona as a player – only Lionel Messi (778) has more – country in 2021 – before his appointment as Barcelona boss. coach.
When did Xavi change his mind?
By Pol Ballus
The wait is over – Xavi will stay at Barcelona next season.
The good news for the club is that this allows them to immediately begin work on next season’s plan with a manager who has in-depth knowledge of the squad and who has the approval of the vast majority of the dressing room.
The bad news, however, is how this decision was made. Although Xavi informed the club of his change of heart earlier this week, senior officials had expressed doubts in recent hours that Xavi would get his wish.
Last week’s defeats against PSG and Real Madrid played a significant role in this school of thought within the board.
An emergency meeting led by president Joan Laporta alongside Deco, Xavi and managers Rafael Yuste and Alejandro Echevarria on Wednesday evening concluded with the club’s decision to trust the manager for at least one more year.
The lack of consensus on Xavi’s future is undoubtedly the biggest concern for Barca fans. The 44-year-old’s support within the club appears to be at an all-time low since he took over in 2021. But for now, Barca’s players, board and agents know what to expect from the club as they start working towards next season.
What does Xavi’s stay mean for Barcelona?
By Tomas Hill López-Menchero
Xavi remaining at Barcelona is a significant turnaround from his former legendary midfielder – it was only in January that he called the role of head coach a ‘cruel job’ that ‘wears you out » when he announced that he would resign.
The move led to an improvement in results, with Barca remaining unbeaten for 13 games before losing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain last week. Xavi’s touchline outburst during that match and subsequent red card suggest he is still affected by the pressures of ‘entorno’ – the Spanish term which translates to ‘surroundings or surroundings’ but which refers to the attention of Barça fans and media.
He was just as combative after Sunday’s defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, which ended their hopes of retaining the La Liga title last season. But there are encouraging signs in the performances of teenagers Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, around whom Xavi will continue to build. His confidence in Barça’s youngsters trained at La Masia has been one of the big positives since his return as coach.
The need to focus on youth is particularly pressing given Barca’s precarious financial situation. Xavi will have to deal with this again this summer – something which would surely have deterred other coaches from taking the job.
(Fran Santiago/Getty Images)