Xavi was dismissed from Barcelona’s coaching position a month after announcing that he would remain in his position as the team’s coach.
The 44-year-old former Spanish international player announced last January his intention to leave the club at the end of the season, before he was persuaded to reverse his decision in April.
But in the latest twist in the saga – and just 30 days after it was announced that his contract would expire until 2025 – the decision has been made to leave the club.
Xavi met president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco at the club’s training ground on Friday, along with his assistants Oscar Hernandez and Sergio Allegri, as it was decided that the match against Sevilla on Sunday, the final match of the La Liga season, would be his last. responsible for.
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A club statement said: “FC Barcelona would like to thank Xavi for his work as a coach, as well as for his unique career as a player and team leader, and wishes him every future success in the world.”
They added that they would provide details about the new structure of the first team “in the coming days.”
Hansi Flick, former coach of Bayern Munich, is scheduled to take charge of replacing Xavi, and an official announcement is expected next week.
Flick is set to be confirmed as Xavi’s successor (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Flick (59 years old) won the treble with the Bundesliga club in 2019-20, and has been unemployed since his dismissal by the German national team in September.
The Barcelona job will be his first outside Germany in his career.
Xavi’s contract was valid until the summer of 2025 and it remains to be seen what will happen with the financial cost of the exit of Xavi and his coaching staff as well as their salaries.
A month ago, when his resignation was still in effect, Xavi agreed to write off his wages for the remainder of his contract.
The victory over Almeria earlier this month was Xavi’s 100th match with the team. Only Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique have better records with the club over the same number of matches.
Xavi’s stay was announced in April (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
Xavi had requested a meeting with Laporta before Sunday’s match in the Spanish League against Rayo Vallecano as speculation increased about his future, but that did not happen.
Speaking before that match, Xavi said nothing had changed in his position and insisted he still retained the support of Laporta and Deco.
“I can’t add anything new. The club conveys calm to me,” he said. “I remain with the same desire to face what remains for this season and next season. “We have a project planned and nothing changes.”
When asked where the hype about his future was coming from, he replied: “I don’t know who’s talking and I don’t care. What I care about is having the support of the president, who as far as I know has not been touched, and the support of Deco.
“They tell me that nothing has changed. I understand your questions and your job, but this is what I can say. This is Barcelona, there is a lot of noise, I understand that.
Barcelona have secured second place in La Liga before the curtain comes down on the 2023-24 season at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday.
(David Ramos/Getty Images)
