Playing for 90
Fansided

Barcelona announce Xavi Hernandez as new manager

By Ernesto Hernandez

Xavi Hernandez attends 'Campus Xavi Hernández by Santander' at Work Cafe on June 10, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Miquel Benitez/Getty Images)
Xavi Hernandez attends 'Campus Xavi Hernández by Santander' at Work Cafe on June 10, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Miquel Benitez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Xavi Hernandez – seen here at ‘Campus Xavi Hernández by Santander’ at Work Cafe on June 10, 2021, in Barcelona – will now be coaching the team where he became a legend. (Photo by Miquel Benitez/Getty Images)
Xavi Hernandez – seen here at ‘Campus Xavi Hernández by Santander’ at Work Cafe on June 10, 2021, in Barcelona – will now be coaching the team where he became a legend. (Photo by Miquel Benitez/Getty Images) /

The wait is over as Barcelona officially announced club legend Xavi Hernandez as the team’s new manager. After a couple of days in Qatar working on his exit, the former player is coming home.

Despite Al-Sadd breaking the news a day prior, the Catalans made no announcement until the early morning hours.

The club released a statement finally confirming the appointment and stating that Xavi will be in charge for the rest of this campaign and two more seasons. In essence, he signed a two-and-half-year contract.

New Barcelona manager expected to be in charge versus Espanyol

Xavi and his family arrived back at Barcelona and were greeted at the airport by media where he gave his first interview as the new boss.

https://twitter.com/ReshadRahman_/status/1456938635325018117

He also had a message to the Barcelona supporters.

"“It wasn’t goodbye, it was ‘see you soon,'” Xavi said in a video addressed to the fans. “The Camp Nou has always been my home,“You’re my fans, my people, the club that I love the most. And now, I’m coming home. See you soon, Culers. Forca Barca!”Source: ESPN"

Xavi said one of the first things he will do is talk to the players and make his intentions known in terms of what he expects from them.

"“First thing is to talk to the players, explain the ideas I have and work a lot,” Xavi said. “Make a team, work in a group and with great enthusiasm and an eagerness to do well.”Source: Sport"

He also said it was an advantage to be able to manage friends and former teammates and that he didn’t see it as a problem.

The plan is to present Xavi as the new coach on Nov. 8 at the Camp Nou. The event will be open to the public.

It is a return home for one of the best midfielders in the world and an integral part of making Barcelona the best team in the world under Pep Guardiola. But it is not the same club as it was when he left.

Next. Two more Liga MX postseason tickets handed out. dark

Barcelona are stuck between the past and the future and Xavi is going to have a lot of work to do to steer the ship in the post-Messi era. The important thing is he will have time to do so. An advantage hardly anyone else was going to be given.

Home/FC Barcelona