Xavi Hernández new head coach of the Netherlands men’s national team

Xavi Hernández has reached an agreement with the KNVB on a contract through to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. - Foto: KNVB Media

Xavi Hernández has been appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands men’s national team. The 46-year-old Spanish coach takes over from Ronald Koeman. Xavi has reached an agreement with the KNVB on a contract through to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Xavi on his appointment: “It is a great honour to become head coach of the Netherlands national team. As someone who was developed at the FC Barcelona academy, with strong influences from, among others, Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, I feel a special connection to Dutch football. You could say I am, in a way, a son of Dutch football. Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barcelona, and Frank Rijkaard, have also played an important role in shaping me as both a player and as a coach.”

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

“The Netherlands has a rich football culture and a clear vision that strongly appeals to me: attacking football, based on possession, with creativity, passion and conviction,” Xavi continues. “Of course, the main objective is always to win, but I prefer to do so in a way that reflects those characteristics and that people can enjoy watching. The potential is there, as well as a strong foundation to build on. I am looking forward to starting this challenge together with the players, the staff and everyone within the KNVB.”

Director of Elite Football Nigel de Jong: “Every new cycle requires us to take a fresh look at where we want to go, what we need to get there and which available head coach is the best fit. Xavi has experienced and won everything as a player, including a World Cup, multiple league titles and Champions League titles."

"As a coach, he has been shaped by years of working with top coaches who share a footballing vision that aligns very well with the way we want the Netherlands national team to play: taking the initiative, playing dominant and attractive football, combined with the flexibility required in modern football at the highest level."

"Xavi believes in these core principles and has embraced them and made them his own. All of that, combined with his personality and the way he connects with players and brings the best out of a group, makes him the right choice for the coming years.”

Managing Director Marianne van Leeuwen: “With Xavi we are bringing in someone who, as both a player and a coach, has experienced the very highest level of international football. He knows what it takes to be successful and brings that experience to the Netherlands national team. That fits our ambitions. We are therefore delighted that he has chosen to take on this challenge.”

Xavi Hernández’s career

After an impressive playing career in which he played for Barcelona for a total of seventeen seasons and achieved great success, Xavi Hernández began his coaching career in 2019 at Al-Sadd in Qatar, where he had previously also played. In what is still a young coaching career, he was immediately successful, winning several domestic trophies with the club. In November 2021, Xavi returned to FC Barcelona as head coach. In the 2022/23 season, he led the club to victory in the Spanish Super Cup and to its first league title since the 2018/19 season.

As a player, Xavi is regarded as one of the most successful footballers and finest midfielders of recent decades. He came through the FC Barcelona youth academy and made his first-team debut in 1998 under former Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal. Throughout his career, Xavi was known for his exceptional understanding of the game, passing ability and capacity to control the tempo of a match. He ultimately played more than 750 official matches for FC Barcelona and won, among other honours, eight league titles, four UEFA Champions League titles and two FIFA Club World Cups with the club. With Spain, he was at the center of the most successful national teams of all time for many years. He won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 and became world champion in 2010.

Composition of the coaching staff

The coaching staff will be further shaped in the coming weeks. Xavi: “The intention is to put together a coaching staff that also includes Dutch input. Specific knowledge of the game, the players and the culture is of great value. By combining each other’s knowledge and experience, we will create the best possible conditions to get the maximum out of ourselves and the squad.”