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Former Barcelona manager Xavi has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands on a four-year contract.
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The Spaniard becomes the first non-Dutch manager to lead the national team since Austrian Ernst Happel left the role in 1978.
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Xavi returns to management for the first time since leaving Barcelona in 2024 and will be tasked with rebuilding the Dutch side after their World Cup exit.
August 12, (THEWILL) — Former Barcelona manager Xavi has been appointed the new head coach of the Netherlands, making history as the first foreign coach to take charge of the Dutch national team in almost five decades.
The 46-year-old Spaniard has signed a four-year contract and will succeed Ronald Koeman, who resigned following the Netherlands’ last-32 defeat by Morocco at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Xavi’s appointment marks a significant departure from the Netherlands’ traditional preference for Dutch coaches. The last foreign manager to lead the national team was Austrian Ernst Happel, who stepped down in 1978.
Despite being a Spaniard, Xavi has long-standing connections to Dutch football through his development at Barcelona’s famed academy, where the influence of Dutch football philosophy has been deeply embedded.
“I consider it a tremendous honour to become head coach of the Dutch national team,” Xavi said after his appointment.
The former Barcelona midfielder highlighted the influence of Dutch football legends Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels on his development, describing himself as partly a product of the country’s footballing philosophy.
READ ALSO: Flick Replaces Xavi As Barcelona’s New Manager
“You could say that I am partly a son of Dutch football,” Xavi said, while also crediting Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard for shaping his career. Van Gaal handed Xavi his Barcelona debut, while Rijkaard later coached him at the Catalan club.
Xavi’s appointment also comes with an intriguing historical connection.
As a player for Spain, he was part of the team that defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa.
Now, 16 years later, he will be responsible for leading the Dutch national team and attempting to restore the country to the international elite.
Xavi enjoyed an illustrious playing career with Barcelona and Spain, winning 25 major honours at club level and three international trophies with Spain.
He retired from playing in 2019 before beginning his managerial career with Qatari club Al-Sadd.
He returned to Barcelona as manager in November 2021 and guided the club to the La Liga title during his first full season in charge.
However, he left the position in 2024 and has remained out of management since then.
The Netherlands job will therefore represent his first managerial challenge in more than two years.
Xavi was not the only high-profile candidate considered for the position.
READ ALSO: Morocco Knock Out Netherlands On Penalties To Set Up Canada Clash
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot confirmed that he held discussions about the role but ultimately withdrew from consideration because he wants his next job to be in club football.
Xavi will now face the task of rebuilding a Netherlands side that suffered an early World Cup exit and beginning a new era with a coach whose footballing philosophy has been heavily influenced by the same Dutch principles that shaped the national team’s identity.
His appointment could signal a new chapter for the Netherlands, with Xavi attempting to blend the possession-based philosophy associated with Barcelona and Dutch football with the demands of international management.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
