Xavi looked tired. With both elbows on the austere press table of the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, the FC Barcelona icon announced what should send the Catalan metropolis into a frenzy: the 44-year-old coach will be resigning from his position at the end of the season.
“I don’t want to be a problem,” said Xavi after the bitter 3:5 against Villarreal FC. “I want the best for the club.” He could also discuss this with Jürgen Klopp.
Almost 36 hours after the German coach of Liverpool FC, Xavi created the next vacancy in the summer at one of the few top European clubs that can usually choose their trainers. And the former midfield wizard sounded a little like Klopp the day before in Liverpool. “I’m a positive guy, but when the energy becomes less and less, there comes a point where you say to yourself, it doesn’t make sense anymore,” said Xavi. Barça, that only works with full commitment.
“Terrible toll on mental health”
“The feeling of being a Barça coach is unpleasant, it’s cruel, you often have the feeling that you’re being treated disrespectfully, that your own work isn’t valued,” said Xavi. “This is a terrible strain on mental health and mood.” The Catalan trade newspaper “Sport” had the headline on page one in capital letters: “Xavi is leaving!” The newspaper wrote of “one of the saddest nights in the history of Barcelona.”
The fans of the proud club will not be sad because an era of success would end with Xavi. After the championship and Supercup last year, Barcelona is playing disappointingly this season. Robert Lewandowski is just a shadow of his former world footballer days at FC Bayern. DFB captain Ilkay Gündogan played well on Saturday evening, but couldn’t prevent the five goals conceded. National goalkeeper Marc André ter Stegen has been out injured for weeks. The fans of the financially struggling club are mourning because the hoped-for fairytale comeback didn’t come to fruition.
Former world and European champion Xavi returned to Barcelona as coach in November 2021. He had previously coached Al-Sadd in Qatar – a bigger leap in his coaching career is hardly possible. With Xavi’s signing, the dreams grew to revive the time when Barça enraptured the football world with Pep Guardiola as coach and Xavi, Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta. On Sunday, the gap in the league to arch-rivals Real Madrid was ten points.
The search for a successor is underway
»I gave everything I had. And I will continue to do that so that the fans can be proud,” said Xavi, who said the Champions League title was his goal for the coming months. SSC Napoli is waiting in the round of 16. “We will fight. I’m optimistic. Even more so after today’s decision,” said Xavi. This will help “change the dynamic.”
According to media reports, the search for a successor has been ongoing for a long time. Real Sociedad San Sebastián coach Imanol Alguacil is said to be a candidate. Former professional Rafa Márquez, who was once a title collector with Xavi and was asked by the media, said: “Who would say no to such an opportunity?” Another ex-player of the club, Thiago Motta, should also have a chance. But the current Bologna coach said: “I’m concentrating on the present.”