Xavi Hernandez to Depart as Barcelona Manager at End of Season

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season following their recent defeat to Villarreal. Xavi, who recently signed a contract extension until 2025, revealed that he had made the decision prior to the match but chose to announce it now to alleviate some of the pressure surrounding the club.

“I would like to announce that I will not remain Barça manager beyond the end of this season,” Xavi confirmed in a news conference. “I had decided to leave a few days ago, but I think now is the right time to announce it to help reduce the tension that exists around the club. A change of dynamic is needed.”

Barça’s recent string of disappointing results, including a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final and a 4-2 loss against Athletic in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, had intensified the pressure on Xavi throughout January.

The defeat to Villarreal left Barcelona trailing LaLiga leaders Real Madrid by 10 points. This, coupled with their exits from the Supercopa and the Copa del Rey this month, has prompted Xavi’s decision to leave.

Saturday’s loss was significant in that it marked the first time Barcelona had conceded five goals in a home LaLiga match since 1963, and the first time they had given up four goals or more in consecutive games since 1951. Despite these setbacks, Xavi remains hopeful that the team can turn things around and have a successful season.

Looking ahead, Barcelona still has a chance to make a mark in the Champions League, with a clash against Al Sadd scheduled for the round of 16. However, Xavi’s decision to step down as manager is firm and irreversible, regardless of the team’s performance in the coming months.

Xavi, who took over from Ronald Koeman in 2021, guided Barcelona from a ninth-place finish in LaLiga to a second-place finish and Champions League qualification. In his first full season in charge, he led the team to their first LaLiga title since 2019 and secured the Spanish Supercopa. However, the club’s failure to advance beyond the group stage in the Champions League for the second consecutive season and a series of disappointing results this year have led to Xavi’s departure.

The 44-year-old coach, who spent over 20 years as a player at Barcelona, including his role as captain, has not yet revealed his future plans. He hinted that he may take a break from coaching to spend more time with his family.