Xavi throws in the towel at Barca, who is next?
Just last season, FC Barcelona clinched a LaLiga and Spanish Cup double, with manager and club legend Xavi Hernandez ending the side’s three-season trophy drought. Now, a full season later, he has confirmed he will be stepping down from his position as head coach. His decision to leave has not been met with any widespread disagreement, certainly not from outspoken club president Joan Laporta, and raises the question: Who will be next in charge of Barca? Even more so, how complicated is it for any manager to take over a job that has seemingly become a poisoned chalice? Soccer Laduma’s Lukhanyo Mtuta looks into the matter.
A fairy-tale reunion thatturned into a short-lived honeymoon
The fairy-tale began in November 2021, when an icon and former captain at the club Xavi returned, taking over the reins from Dutchman Ronald Koeman, who had just been sacked following a string of underwhelming results and some alienating comments in the press about his team. Although he was inexperienced at that level, the then-41-year-old had enjoyed huge success with Qatari giants Al-Sadd, having steered them to six trophies in almost two-anda-half seasons at their helm. At the Camp Nou, he had already become a popular candidate as he had the backing of newly-elected president Laporta, who was put on the throne in March that year after winning the election with a resounding 57.6%. It was a match made in heaven between Xavi and the club, with many viewing his appointment as the second coming of Pep Guardiola. Having been appointed in November of the 2021/22 campaign, the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner steered the club to a second-place finish in LALIGA behind champions Real Madrid. He received plaudits for his attractive, possession-based style of football, with young players such as Gavi and Pedri playing integral roles in midfield. This also came during the club’s first season without Lionel Messi, whose departure from the Catalan giants was the biggest symptom of the club’s financial troubles. Even more impressively, during his first full season in the Camp Nou dugout, he completed a league and cup double, finishing 10 points ahead of that season’s runners-up, Los Blancos.
The beginning of the end
This season, things have fallen off the cliff, with log leaders Real currently sitting eight points clear of Barca in third place, with the two teams separated by Girona in second spot. What is perhaps bizarre for some is that the club hasn’t been completely bad, with Xavi’s 2023/24 record as of 4 March 2024 being 24 wins in 39 matches, along with eight draws and seven losses across all competitions. Moreover, the Blaugrana are still in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, a feat they had not achieved in the previous two seasons, when they were dumped out of the group stage in consecutive campaigns. The unavoidable elephant in the room, though, is Barca’s miserable financial situation. After completing a trophy double last term, in an ideal world, the manager would be rewarded with signings he wanted. But for Xavi, he was quite literally not afforded his wishes. Following Sergio Busquets’ departure for Inter Miami, the 44-year-old pushed for the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad but the club couldn’t afford him, instead signing Oriol Romeu. It was also widely reported that another big target of Xavi’s was Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, who was reportedly keen on the move too, but that also fell through, with Ilkay Gundogan arriving at the Camp Nou as a free agent instead. This has been a recurring feature of Xavi’s tenure, the club’s limited spend having been a thorn in the coach’s attempts to reinforce the squad. Earlier this season, he also expressed his disappointment at losing winger Ousmane Dembele after he joined Paris Saint-Germain. Ultimately, Xavi looks defeated by the situation and appeared helpless as he was given little budget in the recent January transfer window despite the apparent need for some new additions to the team following Gavi’s season-ending injury in November 2023. Indeed, there aren’t many questions as to why he would leave as the constrained conditions the club is in looks inescapable. With the Xavi-Barca fairy-tale now set to come to a disenchanted end, the bigger question is: Who will take the hot seat in 2024/25? Several top managers have already been mooted in the press, including former Barca boss Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann and Rafael Marquez.
The return of Enrique?
According to Carrusel Deportivo, Barca sporting director Deco wants the current PSG boss to replace Xavi next season. Although there are other candidates who are reportedly being considered, the Portuguese chief is said to already have his favourite but is believed to understand how difficult it would be to re-sign their former treblewinning manager. Enrique won nine trophies with the club between 2014 and 2017, and averaged 2.41 points per match during his hugelysuccessful tenure at the Camp Nou. He would certainly be the safest option given his relationship and history with Barca, but his contract at PSG only runs out in June 2025.
Flick, Nagelsmann & the German approach
The early 1980s were the last time a German sat at the Barca helm, with Udo Lattek lasting just two seasons in charge. Both Flick and Nagelsmann’s names are said to have come up as candidates, with German newspaper Bild recently reporting that Barcelona have had concrete talks with the former, who remains without a job after he was sacked by the Germany national team last year. The 59-yearold has no prior experience in Spain, but his glittering record while in charge of Bayern Munich solidifies his case, having guided the Bavarian giants to seven trophies, including the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup, between 2019 and 2021. Nagelsmann, meanwhile, is the current Germany head coach and his contract will run until the end of the 2024 UEFA European Championship on home soil in July. It is noted that no formal approach has been made by Barca yet, with the club wary of the fact that Nagelsmann’s focus is only on the upcoming Euros. According to reports in the Spanish press, the 36-year-old is admired for his revolutionary football ideas, his innovative style of play, and ability to work with young players. Nagelsmann is also reportedly on Liverpool’s radar, though, amid Jurgen Klopp’s confirmed farewell from Anfield in June.
Marquez, an affordable gamble
Marquez is currently in charge of the team’s reserve side, Barca Athletic. Having captained the first team as a player, the 45-year-old knows the club thoroughly and would, in theory, easily be able to communicate the Barca DNA to the players. Guardiola and Enrique’s journey to the helm were similar, with both having coached in Real’s academy before being promoted to the first team. According to Marca, Marquez would also be the less complicated option from a financial point of view, with his wages not expected to be a huge issue in comparison to the other candidates. A report by Football Espana also claims that the Mexican would not say no if he was called upon to replace Xavi.
So who’s itgoing to be?
In conclusion, any manager willing to take the job will instantly have to accept that money is an issue. Barca’s ailing recruitment will therefore likely be a defining trait of any manager’s tenure going forward. It is unclear which direction the club will move towards, but the reality is that Barcelona cannot make the expensive blockbuster signings they used to make in the past.