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Xavi Hernández Appointed Netherlands Football Coach Through 2030
🇪🇸 Spain /Sports

Xavi Hernández Appointed Netherlands Football Coach Through 2030

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Xavi Hernández, former Barcelona coach, has agreed to a contract until 2030 to become the new head coach of the Netherlands national football team.
  • He replaces Ronald Koeman, who departed after the Netherlands' disappointing 2026 World Cup performance.
  • Xavi expressed honor at the appointment, citing his connection to Dutch football philosophy and his desire to build upon the team's elite status.

Xavi Hernández, the 46-year-old former Spanish midfielder and coach, is set to lead the Netherlands national football team after reaching an agreement with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). The KNVB announced the signing of a contract that will keep Xavi at the helm until 2030, succeeding Ronald Koeman.

the appointment means a great honor for me

— Xavi HernándezXavi Hernández expressed his feelings about being appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands national football team.

Koeman's departure followed a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign where the Dutch team was eliminated in the round of 16 by Morocco. The KNVB considered several candidates, including Arne Slot, who opted to remain in club management after coaching Liverpool between 2024 and 2026.

You could say I am, in a way, a son of Dutch football

— Xavi HernándezXavi Hernández explained his deep connection to Dutch football philosophy.

Speaking through the KNVB, Xavi described the appointment as a "great honor," while the federation lauded him as a player who "has lived and won everything." Xavi, a former captain and 133-cap international for Spain, began his coaching career with Al-Sadd in Qatar before managing FC Barcelona from 2021 to 2024.

Each new cycle requires us to re-analyze where we want to go, what we need for it, and which available coach best fits those objectives.

— Nigel de JongNigel de Jong, director of elite football at the KNVB, discussed the criteria for selecting a new national team coach.

Xavi, who developed in Barcelona's youth academy under the influence of figures like Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, feels a special connection to Dutch football. "You could say I am, in a way, a son of Dutch football," he stated. Nigel de Jong, KNVB's director of elite football, highlighted the need for a coach aligning with the team's future goals, while Marianne van Leeuwen, director of professional football, noted Xavi's experience at the absolute elite level of international football.

with Xavi we are incorporating someone who, as a player and coach, knows the absolute elite of international football.

— Marianne van LeeuwenMarianne van Leeuwen, director of Dutch professional football, commented on Xavi's suitability for the role.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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