Xavi open to Barcelona job
FT Desk
- 10 Oct 2021 10:17 CDT
- 3 min read
Xavi has revealed that he is open to the possibility of replacing Ronald Koeman as coach of Barcelona.
Koeman is under huge pressure at Camp Nou after a miserable start to the 2021-22 season.
Trending
His team are bottom of their Champions League group after suffering successive 3-0 defeats to Bayern Munich and Benfica.
WHO ARE THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS IN THE WORLD?
He also recently embarked on a three-match winless run, which ended with 3-0 victory over Levante - only for the pressure to pile on again with further defeats to Benfica and Atletico Madrid.
Will Xavi replace Koeman?
Several names have been mentioned as possible successors to Koeman, including Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi himself.
And when asked on Sunday if he would take the job if he was offered it, the current Al Sadd coach replied, according to Mundo Deportivo: “Any offer will be valued and then decided upon.
“I don’t know where my future will take me, but I’m open to any possibility.”
According to Spanish outlet Sport, many members of the Barcelona board want Xavi to return to the club as coach, but Barcelona president Joan Laporta is not keen.
Laporta previously had this to say about a Xavi return: "He needs a bit more experience. That's what the club needs. It's the same as we did with Rijkaard, who laid the foundations, and Guardiola, who brought excellence. This situation requires experience."
Laporta is also reportedly not sweet on Xavi because the former captain was the managerial choice of another presidential candidate, Victor Font, an election rival of Laporta.
Xavi is regarded as one of the greatest players in Barcelona history, having made 767 appearances for the club between 1998 and 2015.
He won a host of major honours during this time, including eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns.
