Xavi Hernández has broken his silence after his departure from FC Barcelona and has left open a possibility that many Barça fans never imagined: coaching another team in LaLiga. Until now, the Egarense coach had maintained a low profile while enjoying his sabbatical year, but in an interview with France Football, he surprised with his statements about his future.
Xavi Doesn't Rule Out Coaching in Spain
"I don't have anything predetermined, I'm open. Why not coach another LaLiga team? I'm looking for an exciting project, I have the ambition to win trophies. This is the main goal. I'll be listening to different offers," Xavi stated.
His words have caused a great stir among Barça fans, who have always considered him an untouchable figure of Barcelona fandom. Although the former Barça coach has received offers from abroad, especially from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, he doesn't rule out continuing his career in Spain.
"I like to see teams that play the ball one way or another. Coaches like Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Arne Slot (Liverpool), Bayern Munich of Vincent Kompany. But also the championships of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Portugal..." he commented.
LaLiga Teams That Could Be Interested in Xavi
Xavi's statements have not gone unnoticed and have put several LaLiga teams on alert that are looking for a coach of his profile.
- Valencia CF: The Che club is going through a sporting and economic crisis. Xavi could be the coach to bring back excitement to Mestalla, with a more offensive and possession-based play style.
- Real Sociedad: It is speculated that Imanol Alguacil could leave the Donostiarra bench at the end of the season. Xavi's profile fits perfectly with the Basque club's philosophy, based on associative and youth football.
- Real Betis: Manuel Pellegrini has been a pillar at Benito Villamarín, but his continuity is not guaranteed. Xavi could be an attractive option if Betis wants to take a further step in their project.
- Sevilla FC: The Seville team is having a very irregular season and, if a change on the bench finally occurs, Xavi could be a future bet.
Xavi Hernández Analyzes His Time at Barça
The former Barça coach also reflected on his time on Camp Nou bench, highlighting his achievements and the difficulties he faced.
"My first year and a half at Barça was very, very good. We had a good project with Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff that allowed us to finish second in La Liga, before winning the championship in 2023, in addition to the Spanish Super Cup. Then, the results were less good. The departures of Jordi and Mateu were a hard blow," he explained.
Despite having won titles and rebuilt the team in a difficult moment, Xavi acknowledged that his strong sentimental bond with the club could have worked against him.
"My deep attachment to Barça sometimes didn't do me any favors, maybe sometimes I was too sentimental, but this adventure was a true learning experience," he confessed.
Xavi's Numbers as Barça Coach
During his time on the Barça bench, Xavi managed a total of 143 matches, achieving 91 victories, 23 draws, and 29 defeats in all competitions.
He took charge of the team in 2021, after three years coaching in Qatar, and left in 2024 with two titles in his record: 1 La Liga and 1 Spanish Super Cup. However, this was not enough to keep his position, as Laporta decided to dispense with him after an irregular performance in his last season.
Now, with his future in the air, Xavi Hernández doesn't close doors and could make a decision that would hurt many Barça fans: coaching another LaLiga team. Will we see the Barça legend coaching in Spain with a different jersey than Barça's?