Xavi Hernández will go away his position as Barcelona coach after Sunday’s remaining recreation of the season, the membership mentioned in a press release Friday.
A supply advised ESPN that former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is “heading in the right direction” to exchange him.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta met with Xavi after Friday’s coaching session to verify the membership’s resolution on a change of path.
The transfer comes only one month after Xavi and Laporta introduced in a joint information convention that the Catalan coach would fulfil his contract, which runs till 2025, regardless of having beforehand deliberate to step down this summer time.
“Barcelona president Joan Laporta has communicated to Xavi Hernández that he won’t proceed as coach for the 2024-25 season,” Barcelona mentioned in a press release.
“The assembly befell on the coaching floor within the presence of vp Rafa Yuste, sporting administrators Deco and Xavi’s assistants, Óscar Hernández and Sergio Alegre.
“Barcelona need to thank Xavi for his work as coach, which provides to his unmatchable profession as a participant and the captain of the primary crew, and need him all the most effective sooner or later.
“Xavi will take cost of Sunday’s recreation in opposition to Sevilla in what shall be his remaining match as coach.
“Within the coming days, Barcelona will reveal the brand new teaching construction for the primary crew employees.”
Flick, 59, has been out of labor since leaving the Germany job in 2023 however has impressed the Barça hierarchy in talks, with ESPN reporting this week he had emerged because the main candidate to exchange Xavi.
Barça B crew coach Rafa Márquez and outgoing Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel had been additionally thought of, however a supply mentioned negotiations with Flick’s camp had been now superior.
Xavi introduced in January he would step down on the finish of the season, though he carried out a U-turn in April, revealing he would keep and fulfil his contract. That call was reached after a gathering with Laporta, however the Barça president has since modified his thoughts and determined to hunt a change of path.
Laporta was irritated by remarks made by Xavi final week in regards to the monetary difficulties going through the membership within the switch market, though sources added the president has by no means been absolutely satisfied by the previous Spain worldwide.
Sources repeatedly advised ESPN this week that Xavi and his employees had not obtained any official details about his future, though they’d suspected for some time that they had been dwelling out their final days at Barça.
It stays to be seen how Xavi will half methods with the membership. He was beforehand prepared to forgo the ultimate yr of his contract, however given the change in circumstances, sources have neither confirmed nor denied whether or not he’ll ask to be paid for the remaining yr of his contract.
Xavi, who revamped 700 appearances for Barça as a participant, took over in 2021 and final season led the Blaugrana to a primary LaLiga title since 2019.
“It’s by no means simple to go away the membership of your life, however I’m very proud after two and a half years on the head of a dressing room that has been like a second household,” Xavi mentioned in a put up on social media.
“From Sunday I shall be one other fan within the stands… As a result of earlier than being a participant or a coach I’m a Barcelona fan and I solely need the most effective for the membership in my life, which is able to all the time have me at its disposal.
“This season issues haven’t gone our method, however we’ve let it go and helped to develop a brand new technology of younger footballers from La Masia who encourage all Barcelona followers… I want the most effective for the membership that I maintain expensive to my coronary heart.”
In the meantime, Flick has lengthy been admired by Laporta. In Might 2021, ESPN revealed that Barça contacted Flick’s camp to search out out his availability however the then-Bayern coach had already dedicated to the Germany nationwide crew and the membership due to this fact determined to maintain Ronald Koeman.
The scenario is totally different this time, with Flick out of labor since being sacked by Germany in September 2023. Earlier than managing Germany, Flick led Bayern to a Treble in 2020, beating Barça 8-2 en path to profitable the Champions League.
A big a part of his teaching profession was beforehand spent working as assistant to Joachim Löw with the German nationwide crew, a job he held when Germany gained the World Cup in 2014.