Xavi appointed as Netherlands head coach until 2030 World Cup

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has officially appointed Xavi as the new head coach of the Netherlands. His contract is set to run until the 2030 World Cup.

Xavi expressed that leading the national team is a significant honour. He noted a deep connection to Dutch football due to his upbringing in the Barcelona academy, which was shaped by the influences of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. He described himself as a son of Dutch football, citing the impact of former coaches Frank Rijkaard and Louis van Gaal, the latter of whom oversaw his professional debut at Barcelona.

The announcement caused the KNVB website to crash immediately upon being released. Xavi arrives at the national team following his exit from Barcelona after the 2024 season. He succeeds Ronald Koeman, who was the previous manager of the Netherlands and the man Xavi replaced at Barcelona.

Patrick Kluivert has been identified as a strong candidate to serve as Xavi's assistant coach. The Netherlands enters this new era following their performance in this summer's World Cup, where they reached the round of 32 before being knocked out by Morocco in a penalty shootout.