Barcelona next manager odds: Xavi leads Martinez in the betting

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 28 Oct 2021 03:36 CDT
• 3 min read

Xavi has been installed as the clear bookmaker's favourite to replace Ronald Koeman, who was sacked as Barcelona coach on Wednesday.

Barca's 1-0 loss at Rayo, which came hot on the heels of a disappointing 2-1 home defeat in the Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday, proved enough to end the Dutchman's 16-month reign in charge.

Barcelona's financial predicament is such that any big names can be ruled out of taking over.

FC Barcelona has relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties as first team coach

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 27, 2021

But former captain Xavi, who has been in Qatar for the past few seasons with Al Sadd, is as short a 1/5 to be appointed as Koeman's replacement in charge at Camp Nou.

Joan Laporta's relationship with Xavi is complex; more than one of his rivals to the presidency that he won in March had aligned themselves with the former midfielder and indicated that were they appointed, they would bring Xavi with them.

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But given their current situation - ninth in La Liga and facing an early Champions League exit following heavy defeats to Bayern Munich and Benfica - Laporta may have no other alternative than bring the La Masia graduate home with a view to growing a new project.

Barca's alternatives to Xavi

All other alternatives are long odds in comparison; Belgium national team coach Roberto Martinez is 10/1 while Andrea Pirlo, sacked by Juventus in the summer, is 16s.

Antonio Conte (33s) and Joachim Low, after leaving Germany after their unsuccessful Euro 2020 campaign, is 40/1.

But it's clear that whoever Barcelona appoint, the club will need to be prepared for a difficult period ahead.