Spanish football star Xavi named new Dutch national team’s manager
Former Spanish footballer Xavi Hernández will become the new head coach of the Dutch men’s national team, succeeding Ronald Koeman, Dutch football association KNVB confirmed on Wednesday. The 46-year-old, who formerly managed FC Barcelona, has signed a contract to lead Oranje through the 2030 World Cup.
His debut will take place in September when the Netherlands hosts Germany for a Nations League match. Known globally by his first name only, Xavi has been without a team since leaving Barcelona in 2024. He managed the Catalonian club to its first league title in four years in 2023. He began his coaching career in 2019 at Al Sadd in Qatar.
Koeman left following this summer's disappointing World Cup. The KNVB settled on Xavi after an extended search that included an interview with Arne Slot, who recently said he preferred to work for a club.
Xavi said he considers himself "somewhat of a son of Dutch football." In a press release, he stated, "I consider it a tremendous honor to become the manager of the Dutch national team. As someone who received his training at the FC Barcelona academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruijff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football."
Xavi added, "Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barcelona, and Frank Rijkaard, have also played an important role in shaping me as a player and coach.”
He wants the Dutch squad to return to playing an attacking style of football. "The Netherlands has a rich football culture and a clear vision that appeals to me enormously as well: attacking football, based on possession, with creativity, passion, and conviction. Of course, the most important goal is, and always will be, to win, but I prefer to do so in a way that reflects those characteristics, and which people can enjoy."
He plans to lean on Dutch colleagues when forming his technical staff, but is also expected to look towards trusted confidants. Patrick Kluivert is among those rumored as a candidate for assistant manager.
Under Koeman, Ruud van Nistelrooij, Erwin Koeman, and Wim Jonk were part of the technical staff. "Dutch knowledge of football, the players, and the culture is of great value,” Xavi said.
“By combining each other's knowledge and experience, we create the best conditions to get the maximum out of ourselves and the squad as a team.”
Xavi will be officially presented as national coach at a press conference at the KNVB headquarters in Zeist on Aug. 25. The KNVB said the new technical staff will take shape in the coming weeks.
Xavi was one of the best midfielders in the world during his playing career, which ended when he retired in 2019. Together with Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, he formed a renowned midfield for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
With his country’s team, he won the European championships in 2008 and 2012, and helped defeat the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. While playing for Barcelona, he won the Champions League four times, and the national title eight times.