The Royal Dutch Football Association appointed former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez as the new head coach of the Netherlands national team. The Spaniard signed a four-year contract that runs through the 2030 World Cup.
Xavi replaced Ronald Koeman, who stepped down after the Netherlands exited the recent World Cup in the last 32 against Morocco. The appointment marked Xavi’s first role in international management and his return to coaching since he left Barcelona in 2024.
Xavi issued a statement through the KNVB. “I consider it a tremendous honour to become head coach of the Dutch national team,” he said.
“As someone who received his training at the FC Barcelona academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football. You could say that I am a bit of a son of Dutch football,” he stated.
He also credited coaches Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard for shaping his career. Xavi noted that the Netherlands’ vision of attacking football based on possession, creativity, passion and conviction appealed to him.
Xavi became the first foreign coach of the Netherlands since Austrian Ernst Happel in 1978. He previously succeeded Koeman at Barcelona in 2021 and guided the club to the La Liga title in 2023. Before that, he began his managerial career at Al Sadd in Qatar.
The KNVB conducted an extensive search after Koeman’s departure. Several candidates, including Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag, declined the role. Xavi’s first match in charge was scheduled for 24 September against Germany in the Nations League.
