January 27, 2024
Updated 2 hours ago
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Xavi scored 85 goals in 767 games for Barcelona between 1998 and 2015
Barcelona coach Xavi says he will step down at the end of the season.
He led Barca to the Spanish title in his first full season as manager in 2022/23, but Saturday's 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal leaves them 10 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
“I was a man of the club. For me it was more important than myself. I gave everything I had,” said Xavi.
“And I will continue to do this to make the fans proud.”
The 44-year-old, who won 25 awards during his illustrious playing career with Barcelona, will officially step down on June 30, although he still has a year left on his contract.
The 2010 World Cup winner said he made the decision after discussions with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, vice president Rafa Yuste and sporting director Deco.
“I think the club needs a change of dynamic,” said Xavi. “For the benefit of the players, I believe they will break free. We play with a lot of excitement.”
“For the good of the board, it's best that I do the right thing.”
Barca responded with back-to-back wins but then crashed out of the Copa del Rey with defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday before falling even further behind in the title race at Villarreal.
Xavi says the job has taken its toll and it is time for him to retire for health reasons.
“In Barcelona you always feel like you’re not valued and treated badly – that’s how the club works,” he said.
“It’s also difficult psychologically. I am a positive person, but the battery charge is always running low – and at some point you realize that there is no point in staying.”
Xavi also hopes the announcement of his departure will “de-escalate” the situation for the rest of the season, which includes the Champions League round of 16 against Napoli next month.
“I wouldn't change my decision even if I won the Champions League. I'll tell the players tomorrow. I am the most responsible one, so now the players will finally feel free,” he added.
“I am not driven by financial matters but by my heart. I think it’s the best thing for the club.”
“I don’t want to be a problem, I want to be a solution, and I believe I can still be a solution by June.”
“I don’t know if he’ll continue after that.”
Analysis by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague
Xavi is first and foremost a Barcelona fan and a good, realistic analyst of the situation at a club he knows very well.
Secondly, he is a manager who has prepared himself to become Barcelona coach. I can't imagine him managing anyone else. I don't know if he'll continue after that.
With those two things and winning the league, it was a defining moment for his time at Barcelona. And instead of using his weight to gain more authority, the club took away his authority. So he lost the sporting director Jordi Cruyff, he lost the football director Mateu Alemany and that meant he was on his own.
Remember, Xavi was not the choice of club president Joan Laporta. Xavi came into the election with Victor Font, another candidate, and when Laporta won the election he felt that the fans wanted a former legend for the team at a time of crisis and confusion. So he gave him a chance.
He wanted Xavi to play with the B team for a year or two, like Pep Guardiola had done, but Xavi said no, I just wanted to be in the first team. Laporta was never convinced by him.
After three years as a coach, the players should be at a different level. Individually they look worse than last season and overall there is no defined style. Xavi will have to decide whether this was his own failure or whether the conditions were not favorable for his success.
Because he had a lot of success as a player, he doesn't need to push for success as a manager. If he doesn't want it that much, then maybe he wasn't ready for Barcelona. But he'll have to analyze that at some point.
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