Aoba Tanaka 
In a dramatic turn of events, FC Barcelona has decided to part ways with manager Xavi Hernandez , with former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick poised to take over. Xavi, who was contracted until 2025, will lead Barcelona for the final time on Sunday when they host Sevilla in their last La Liga match of the season.
The decision was communicated to Xavi during a meeting with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco on Friday, marking exactly one month since the announcement that he would remain at the club. The 44-year-old former Spain midfielder, who initially expressed his intention to leave in January, was convinced to stay by Laporta in April.
However, recent comments from Xavi regarding the club’s financial struggles reportedly angered Laporta, prompting the club to make a change. Barcelona thanked Xavi for his contributions since taking charge in 2021.
“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,” Xavi wrote in an open letter on social media. “From Sunday I will be just one more Barca fan, in the stands. Because 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.”
Barcelona announced that a “new structure” will be confirmed in the coming days, with Hansi Flick set to take charge. Conversations with the 59-year-old began at least two months ago, and an agreement has been in place for a while. Flick has been out of work since being sacked by Germany in September 2023.
Flick, who succeeded Joachim Low as Germany’s national coach in 2021, became the first Germany manager to be dismissed since the role was created in 1926, managing just 12 wins in 25 matches. Before his national team stint, Flick guided Bayern Munich to a treble in 2020, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League. Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski, 35, played under Flick at Bayern Munich for two seasons.
Despite leading Barcelona to the La Liga title in the 2022-23 season, Xavi’s team struggled to defend their crown this term. The Catalans are currently 12 points behind rivals Real Madrid with one game remaining. Additionally, Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Paris Saint-Germain.
Xavi, a legendary figure at Barcelona, spent 17 years at the club as a player, emerging from the famed La Masia academy. After a stint with Qatari side Al-Sadd, Xavi retired in 2019 and transitioned to management, eventually returning to Barcelona in November 2021 to replace Ronald Koeman. During his tenure, he secured the La Liga title and the Spanish Cup, re-establishing Barcelona’s presence in the Champions League.
However, his departure has sparked criticism from various quarters. Sevilla boss Quique Sanchez Flores voiced his disapproval of Barcelona’s handling of Xavi. “I shouldn’t say this, but how badly Barcelona treats its legends. What a bad streak,” Flores remarked. “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.”
Flores added that he had “doubts the criticism about him [Xavi] is correct.”
As Xavi prepares for his final match in charge, he leaves with a commendable record of 89 wins in 141 games, a 63% win ratio. Barcelona will finish the season second in La Liga, behind champions Real Madrid, and fans will watch closely as the club transitions to a new era under Hansi Flick.
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