Xavi Hernández appointed as the Netherlands' head coach, replaces Ronald Koeman again
· Yahoo Sports
Over a month after Ronald Koeman resigned as the Netherlands’ head coach following a disastrous FIFA World Cup campaign, Oranje have finally found his replacement in fellow Barcelona legend, Xavi Hernández.
Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.
Tension had begun to build amongst the Dutch fanbase over the duration of their search for Koeman’s successor, especially with Belgium having recently appointed Oranje legend Mark van Bommel as their new boss.
Making matters worse was former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, PSV manager Peter Bosz, and most recently, ex-Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, each ruling themselves out of the running.
- Kylian Mbappe drops World Cup truth bomb after absurd third-place loss to England
- Donald Trump sparks outrage with Harry Kane World Cup comments
This left options seemingly thin on the ground, with Under-21s head coach Michael Reiziger and former Belgium boss Roberto Martínez (via De Telegraaf) both linked with the role, while legendary manager Louis van Gaal also appeared to throw his name into the hat for what could have been his third stint in charge.
However, after Slot’s comments to Voetbal International on Tuesday that while talks with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) had taken place, his focus remained on domestic management for the time being, the organization appeared to pick up the pace.
On Wednesday, it was officially announced via social media that Xavi, 46, had been appointed on a four-year deal which, should he see it through, will see the iconic Spanish midfielder lead Oranje at the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
Following his appointment, Xavi said, via ESPN, "I consider it a tremendous honour to become head coach of the Dutch national team. As someone who received his training at Barça's academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football. You could say that I am a partly a son of Dutch football. Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barça, and Frank Rijkaard, also played an important role in shaping me as a player and coach."
Ironically, the last time the Dutch national team reached a World Cup Final back in 2010 in South Africa, they wound up losing 1-0 to Spain in extra time, with Xavi playing the full game - marking his nation’s first World Cup triumph.
To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE
A stalwart at Barcelona from 1998, when he was handed his debut by Van Gaal, until he left the club 17 years later, Xavi remains widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of all time. An eight-time La Liga and four-time UEFA Champions League winner, among numerous other accolades, his midfield partnership with Andres Iniesta will not soon be forgotten.
After concluding his career with four years at Al-Sadd in Qatar, Xavi began his managerial career at the same club, winning the Qatar Stars League and two Qatar Cups during his tenure, before taking charge of his beloved Barcelona in November 2021 following Koeman’s exit.
Xavi remained in charge through May 2024, winning the 2022/2023 La Liga crown and the Supercopa de España that same season, before being replaced by current boss Hansi Flick after leading the club to a second-place league finish and the Champions League quarter-finals.
Since then, Xavi has remained unemployed, seemingly awaiting the right opportunity to come his way. And with all major domestic roles having now been fulfilled ahead of the upcoming season, including the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, and AC Milan, it seems the Spaniard is willing to give international coaching a try.
He takes charge of a Dutch side entering a transitional phase, with the likes of all-time leading goal scorer Memphis Depay and captain Virgil van Dijk among several regulars who are over 30.