Xavi sacked by Barcelona just weeks after being persuaded to stay with successor already chosen
Xavi will leave his role as Barcelona's head coach on Sunday with the club announcing he has been relieved of his duties.
The decision comes just weeks after the Spaniard was persuaded to stay on at the Nou Camp.
2
World Cup winner Xavi had declared in January he would step down in Catalonia at the end of the campaign following their poor start.
He then agreed to perform a U-turn and stay put after talks with club chiefs, but it has now been decided the club legend will depart after all.
It appears Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reacted angrily after Xavi commented on the club's financial struggles last week.
Xavi had stated that Barca are unable to compete with rivals Real Madrid and other top European teams on an 'economic level', as he told fans the 'situation is very difficult'.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
It is understood the Blaugrana have already lined up former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Hansi Flick to succeed Xavi.
A Barcelona statement on Xavi read: "The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, announced this afternoon to Xavi Hernandez that he will not continue as coach of the first team in the 2024/25 season.
"The meeting took place at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and the sports vice-president, Rafa Yuste, and the sports director, Anderson Luis de Souza, Deco, as well as Xavi's assistants, Oscar Hernandez and Sergio Alegre, were present.
"FC Barcelona would like to thank Xavi for his work as a coach, which adds to an unparalleled career as a player and captain of the team, and wishes him all the luck in the world.
Most read in Football
2
"Xavi Hernandez will lead his last game as first team coach this Sunday in Seville.
"In the coming days, FC Barcelona will inform about the new structure of the first team."
Gerard Pique reveals that Lionel Messi didn't care about Cristiano Ronaldo, but CR7 still made a key change because of his rival
Xavi took over at Barcelona following the sacking of Ronald Koeman in November 2021.
He guided his beloved side to LaLiga glory last season, with Barca also scooping success in the 2023 Spanish Super Cup.
But Barcelona, who currently sit 12 points behind Madrid heading into the final weekend of the season, have struggled this term.
They lost in the Spanish Super Cup final to Los Blancos, while also crashing out at the quarter-final stage in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey.
German boss Flick now looks set to take the reins at Barcelona having been out of a job since being axed by Germany in 2023.
Topics