Xavi Early Favourite to Replace Ronald Koeman at Barcelona

Xavi Heads Barcelona Targets to Replace Ronald Koeman as Manager

Contact Already Made

The report states that initial contact between Xavi and his former club Barcelona was made weeks ago. It is also claimed that the World Cup winner would love to return, making a deal look very likely.

Having won virtually everything he could as a player, Xavi has continued his successes during his coaching career – which started in 2019 – so far. He is the current manager of Al-Sadd in Qatar.

The 41-year-old has lifted the Qatar Stars League, two Qatar Cups, a Qatari Super Cup, two Emir of Qatar Cups and the Qatari Stars Cup since becoming a manager with the side he ended his playing career with.

Xavi had spent four successful years there as a player before embarking on a coaching career.

Big Challenge for Xavi Should He Return to Barcelona

The step-up in levels from Al-Sadd to Barcelona is obviously a whole different ball game but few players know the club more.

As a player, he made 767 appearances for Barcelona, contributing to over 250 goals and lifting eight league titles and four Champions League’s, among many more accolades.

In Qatar, he has been coaching familiar names such as Santi Cazorla and Andre Ayew.

The task at hand would be a big one given Barcelona’s well-reported financial struggles. They sit ninth in La Liga, six points off the top, and have won just one of their three Champions League games to date. That paired with their off-the-pitch struggles and reliance on the younger players at the club to step up and contribute to any revival, makes it a tough role for anybody. But if anybody can inspire that Barcelona team, it’s a man who has been there for the club’s major successes and been integral to it all.

Romano also reports that other candidates, like Roberto Martinez, are already aware that Xavi is the favourite to take over at the moment.