OFFICIAL: Barcelona sack Xavi as first-team manager

Barcelona has decided to part ways with manager Xavi, and former Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick is set to take over. Xavi will manage his last game for the Catalans on Sunday when they face Sevilla in their final La Liga season match.

Xavi, who had a contract running until 2025, was informed of the decision by club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco during a meeting on Friday. This news comes just a month after the club announced that Xavi would stay on.

In January, the former midfielder expressed his desire to leave Camp Nou, but Laporta convinced him to stay in April. However, Xavi’s recent remarks about the club’s financial difficulties reportedly upset Laporta, leading to the current decision.

Barcelona expressed their gratitude for Xavi’s contributions as a coach since he took charge in 2021. In an open letter shared on social media, Xavi said, “It is never easy to leave the club of your life, but I am very proud after two and a half years at the head of a dressing room that has been like a second family. From Sunday, I will be just one more Barca fan in the stands. Before being a player or a coach, I am a Barcelona fan and I only want the best for the club in my life, which will always have me at its disposal.”

The club plans to reveal a new management structure, with Flick expected to step in in the coming days. Talks with Flick, 59, began at least two months ago, and an agreement has existed for some time. Flick has been without a job since being dismissed by Germany in September 2023. He replaced Joachim Low as Germany’s head coach in 2021 but was sacked after winning just 12 out of 25 matches. Before his stint with Germany, Flick led Bayern Munich to a treble in 2020, securing the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League titles.

Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski, who is 35, played under Flick at Bayern Munich for two seasons. Despite winning the La Liga title in the 2022-23 season under Xavi, Barcelona’s performance this season has been disappointing. They are 12 points behind their rivals, Real Madrid, with one game left in the season. Additionally, they were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Paris St-Germain.

Xavi’s association with Barcelona spans many years. He spent 17 years as a player at the club, having risen through the ranks of the La Masia academy. After four years playing for Al-Sadd in Qatar, Xavi retired in 2019 and took over as the team’s manager. He stayed in Qatar for two more seasons before taking over from Ronald Koeman as Barcelona’s boss in November 2021. During his tenure, he led the team to the La Liga title and the Spanish Cup in his first full season, helping them return to the Champions League.

Sevilla’s manager, Quique Sanchez Flores, criticized Barcelona’s treatment of Xavi, saying, “I shouldn’t say this, but how badly Barcelona treats its legends. What a bad streak. With Koeman, with Messi, with Xavi now – how bad. I wish clubs treated their legends well. That would be fantastic. Xavi is a legend of the club.”

Barcelona will finish the season in second place behind Real Madrid, with Xavi remaining in charge for the game against Sevilla. During his time as Barcelona’s manager, Xavi led the team in 141 games, winning 89 of them, which gives him a 63% win ratio.