Xavi Hernández appointed head coach of the Netherlands on four-year contract
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Xavi Hernández has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands on a four-year contract running through the 2030 World Cup. The former Barcelona manager replaces Ronald Koeman, who resigned after the Dutch side’s last-32 World Cup defeat by Morocco, and the appointment brings Xavi back into management for the first time since leaving Barcelona in 2024.
The 46-year-old won the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships with Spain, and led Barcelona to the 2023 La Liga title after starting his coaching career at Al Sadd. Xavi said he feels a strong connection to Dutch football through the influence of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, and wants his team to play attacking, possession-based football while competing to win. Arne Slot was also approached about the role but chose to remain focused on club management.
- Xavi will coach the Netherlands until the 2030 World Cup.
- He replaces Ronald Koeman after the World Cup exit.
- Xavi promises attacking, possession-based football.
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The Netherlands national team represents the country in major international football tournaments, including the World Cup and European Championship. It has a long tradition of attacking, technical football but has not won the World Cup, despite reaching three finals.
Xavi Hernández is a former Spain and Barcelona midfielder who became known for a possession-based style of play. As a coach, he worked in Qatar before managing Barcelona, where he won the Spanish league title in 2023.
Dutch football has been strongly shaped by Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, whose ideas emphasised movement, pressing and keeping the ball. Those principles influenced Barcelona as well, creating a long-standing link between the Dutch and Spanish approaches to the game.
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