Barcelona sacks Xavi. Hansi Flick is “on his way” to replace him

Barcelona announced in a statement today, Friday, that Xavi Hernandez will leave his position as coach after the final match of the season on Sunday.

Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is “on his way” to replace him, a source told ESPN.

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Barcelona president Joan Laporta met with Xavi after Friday’s training session to confirm the club’s decision on a change of direction.

The move comes just one month after Xavi and Laporta announced in a joint press conference that the Catalan coach would fulfill his contract, which runs until 2025, despite previously planning to step down this summer.

Barcelona said in a statement: “Barcelona President Joan Laporta informed Xavi Hernandez that he will not continue as coach for the 2024-2025 season.”

“The meeting took place at the training ground in the presence of vice president Rafa Yuste, sporting directors Deco and Xavi’s assistants Oscar Hernandez and Sergio Allegri.

“Barcelona would like to thank Xavi for his work as a coach, which adds to his unparalleled career as a player and first-team captain, and we wish him all the best for the future.

“Xavi will take charge of Sunday’s match against Sevilla, in what will be his last match as coach.

He added: “In the coming days, Barcelona will reveal the new training structure for the first team’s technical staff.”

Flick, 59, has been out of work since leaving Germany in 2023, but has impressed Barcelona’s hierarchy in talks, with ESPN reporting this week that he has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Xavi.

Barcelona B coach Rafa Marquez and outgoing Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel were also considered, but a source said negotiations with Flick’s camp have now progressed.

Xavi announced last January that he would step down from his position at the end of the season, although he made a radical change last April, revealing that he would remain and complete his contract. This decision was reached after a meeting with Laporta, but the Barcelona president has since changed his mind and decided to seek a change in direction.

Laporta was upset by comments made by Xavi last week about the club’s financial difficulties in the transfer market, although sources added that the president was not entirely convinced by the former Spain international.

Sources repeatedly told ESPN this week that Xavi and his staff have not received any official information about his future, although they suspected for a while that they were living out their final days at Barcelona.

It remains to be seen how Xavi will part ways with the club. He was previously willing to give up the final year of his contract, but due to changing circumstances, sources have neither confirmed nor denied whether he will ask to be paid for the remaining year of his contract.

Xavi, who made more than 700 appearances for Barcelona as a player, took over in 2021 and led the team last season. Blaugrana To the first Spanish League title since 2019.

“It is never easy to leave the club of your life, but I am very proud after two and a half years at the helm of a dressing room that was like a second family,” Xavi said in a post on social media.

“From Sunday I will be another fan in the stands… because before I become 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 be at my disposal.”

He added: “This season things did not go our way, but we let them go and helped develop a new generation of young footballers.” farm Which inspires all Barcelona fans… I wish the best for the club that I hold dear to my heart.”

Meanwhile, Flick has long admired Laporta. In May 2021, ESPN revealed that Barcelona had contacted Flick’s camp to find out his availability, but the then Bayern coach was already committed to training with the Germany national team, so the club decided to keep Ronald Koeman.

The situation is different this time, with Flick out of action since his dismissal as coach of Germany in September 2023. Before coaching Germany, Flick led Bayern to the treble in 2020, beating Barcelona 8-2 on their way to winning the Champions League.

He previously spent a large part of his coaching career as Joachim Low’s assistant with the German national team, a role he held when Germany won the World Cup in 2014.