The dismissal of Xavi Hernández is now official. Joan Laporta and Deco have informed the until-now first team coach that he will no longer be on the bench for FC Barcelona next season. The club president and sporting director communicated the decision to Xavi in an emergency meeting this Friday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, which was followed by a statement from the club, published on its official channels. The news was inevitable after another development earlier this Friday: it emerged that former German national coach Hansi Flick has been chosen by the Barcelona leadership to take charge of the men's first team next season, thus putting a coda on the shaggy dog story of who was to be coach for 2024/25.
Xavi Hernández, a turbulent period at Barça
In its official statement, Barça informs that Xavi Hernández will lead the team this Sunday in Sevilla for the last time, closing a season that will be one to forget. Moreover, after both club and coach had apparently decided that any parting of ways - which from January until April, was assumed - would be gentle, Xavi's time as Barça manager ends abruptly, with a controversial dismissal. It was just three weeks ago that president Laporta confirmed the coach's continuity in the club of his heart, in a move which was in itself a surprising turnaround from the departure agreed earlier, but which seemed final. However, a further plot twist was detected a few days ago - with tension being apparent between the club's direction and the coach from Terrassa - and it ended with the man who was a Barça midfield legend in his playing days being removed as coach, and Hansi Flick taking over the reconstruction of the club's football project.
Xavi Hernández's management of the Barça side has been two and a half seasons of lights and shadows. The greatest success achieved by Xavi as a coach is, without a doubt, the Spanish Lliga won in the 2022-23 season, which seemed to be the beginning of a new triumphant era, but those successes were not followed through in this season just ending. Xavi will be remembered for being the coach who actively brought in new blood from the club's La Masia youth scheme, promoting marvellous young players such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Alejandro Balde, all of whom seem destined to mark an era in the blaugrana club. But there is also no doubt that the results in Europe have not been forthcoming, and the team's play has seldom been truly brilliant, and certainly not consistent. At best, a transitional stage that must now serve to start a new one with a different face.
Hansi Flick, in charge of leading the new project
Thus, Xavi Hernández's replacement will be Hansi Flick, who will be officially announced as Barça's new coach from Monday, once the season officially ends this weekend. Among the different coaches who have been considered for the role over the last week, the German was Joan Laporta's preferred option, as he considers him a technician with a lot of experience in Europe who will be able to once again create a competitive Barça against the best teams on the continent.
The former coach of the German national team won an historic sextuplet of trophies in a single year with Bayern Munich, displaying overwhelming superiority, and now arrives at a project in need of in-depth reconstruction, including some key signings. Whatever lies ahead on that front, the first big decision at Barça has already been made.