It is now official. Xavi has returned home to Barcelona as first team coach and will be unveiled this coming Monday at Camp Nou.
The former Spain international and Blaugrana legend has signed a contract covering the remainder of this season and the following two campaigns after leaving Qatari outfit Al Sadd. Barca sent a delegation to Qatar to negotiate for their youth academy graduate who has spent the past few years honing his coaching skills.
Xavi, 41, will be formally unveiled as the Catalan giants’ new boss Monday when he will also face the press for the first time. Sergi Barjuan will oversee this weekend’s La Liga fixture against Celta Vigo which takes the team into the November international break.
Since his 2015 departure, only Lionel Messi has been able to surpass Xavi’s 767 appearances at senior level for Barca and the elegant ex-midfielder’s trophy haul stands at 25 with eight titles from La Liga, four from UEFA Champions League, three from the Copa del Rey, two from the FIFA Club World Cup, two from UEFA Super Cup and an additional six Spanish Super Cups.
On top of that, Xavi played a key role in Spain’s most dominant years on the international stage and was part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup winning side as well as the teams which won the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships either side in a glittering four-year spell.
Upon his return to Catalonia, Xavi inherits a broken squad with Barca ninth in the La Liga table coming into this weekend and second in UEFA Champions League Group E with the entire club in need of major overhaul.
