Xavi to remain at helm of Barcelona

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - FC Barcelona confirmed Thursday that head coach, Xavi Hernandez, would continue until the conclusion of the 2024 - 2025 season.

"Today, I have the satisfaction of informing you that Xavi will continue as the coach of Barca. It’s great news that Xavi is staying," club President Joan Laporta said at a news conference at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training center.

Barca currently are in second place, 11 points behind Real Madrid with six games remaining.

Xaci said it was not an easy decision and he communicated that to the board, sporting director, Deco, and Laporta in January that he thought leaving the club was best. But between then and now things changed.

"We spoke yesterday very directly and I said I don’t think this project is finished yet -- that we have a lot of options to continue and to do so in a winning way. I was 100% convinced and I told the president that,” he said. "It is not a subject of money or ego. I saw the confidence of all.”

Xavi, 44, left Qatar's Al-Sadd in 2021 to coach his boyhood club, replacing Ronald Koeman.

The Spanish legend guided Barca to the La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup in 2023.

Xavi spent 24 years as a player for Baca and won 25 major trophies, including four UEFA Champions League titles.

He helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.