Xavi is taking over the Dutch national team. As announced by the KNVB, the Spaniard has signed a contract through the 2030 World Cup.
Xavi is the new national team coach, succeeding Ronald Koeman. The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) made the announcement on Wednesday evening. The 46-year-old Spaniard most recently worked at FC Barcelona and is now taking on his first role as a national team coach. Xavi will make his debut on September 24—against Germany and Jürgen Klopp.
“I consider it a great honor to become the head coach of the Dutch national team,” Xavi is quoted as saying. “As someone who trained at the FC Barcelona academy and was strongly influenced by Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch soccer. You could say that, in a sense, I am a son of Dutch soccer.” Louis van Gaal, under whom he made his debut at Barcelona, and Frank Rijkaard also had a significant influence on him.
2010 World Cup champion and two-time European champion
Xavi began his coaching career in 2019 with Al Sadd in Qatar, where he had previously played, before returning to FC Barcelona as head coach in November 2021. In the 2022–23 season, he led Barca to victory in the Spanish Supercopa as well as their first league title since 2018–19.
As a player, Xavi defined an era: In total, he played more than 750 competitive matches for FC Barcelona and won, among other titles, eight league championships, four Champions League titles, and two Club World Cups with the club. With Spain, he won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
Xavi fits the Dutch philosophy
“As a coach, he has been shaped by years of working alongside top coaches who advocate a soccer philosophy that aligns very well with the way we want to play with the Dutch national team: taking the initiative, playing dominant and attractive soccer, combined with the flexibility required by modern top-level soccer,” explained Nigel de Jong, Director of Elite Soccer at the Dutch Football Association (KNVB).
The exact composition of his coaching staff is still to be determined. According to Xavi, the future staff will also include “Dutch input.” “Dutch knowledge of soccer, the players, and the culture is of great value,” he emphasized.
