Xavi Hernandez ready to lead Netherlands with 'passion and desire'

Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has officially taken the helm as the Netherlands' national team manager, committing to a four-year contract that extends through the 2030 World Cup. Introduced at a press conference on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Hernandez expressed his vision for an attractive, winning style of football, aiming to instill passion, desire, and ambition in a team that was eliminated in the round of 32 in this year's World Cup.

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We have many talented players, but the most important thing for me is to create a team, a group and football-wise we want to create a very brave team to dominate the game, to take the initiative with the ball.

Hernandez plans to foster a strong team spirit, stating, “We have many talented players, but the most important thing for me is to create a team, a group and football-wise we want to create a very brave team to dominate the game, to take the initiative with the ball.” He added, “We are here to compete, we are here to enjoy and we are here to win. I insist we are here to win. I believe a lot in this project. I believe a lot in the players and I'm really excited to start.”

The Dutch national team has a storied but often heartbreaking World Cup history, having reached the final three times and lost each one. Hernandez, however, brings a pedigree of success from his playing days at Barcelona, where he was part of teams that won 25 titles, including four Champions Leagues and eight La Liga titles. He also played a pivotal role in Spain's victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

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We are here to compete, we are here to enjoy and we are here to win. I insist we are here to win. I believe a lot in this project. I believe a lot in the players and I'm really excited to start.

As the first foreign coach for the Netherlands in nearly 50 years, since Ernst Happel in 1978, Hernandez is unfazed by the historical context. He stated his focus is on building a unified team, declaring, “I understand now that I'm a foreigner here but I learnt a lot from the Dutch way of playing and what I learned, I want to return here to the federation.” He will reveal his first squad in three weeks for a Nations League match against Germany in Amsterdam on September 24. This match pits him against another new manager, Jürgen Klopp, who recently took over Germany following their own World Cup disappointment.

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I understand now that I'm a foreigner here but I learnt a lot from the Dutch way of playing and what I learned, I want to return here to the federation.

Hernandez acknowledged the significant challenge ahead, particularly facing Germany and Klopp, whom he described as “one of the best teams in Europe” and “one of the best coaches in the last years.” Despite the formidable opposition, he expressed confidence: “It's a big challenge from the beginning, but I think we will be ready.”

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It's a big challenge from the beginning, but I think we will be ready.