By Our Reporter
Xavi has said that he will leave his position as Barcelona head coach at the end of this season.
The club’s former captain and midfield icon confirmed the news following Saturday’s 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal, a result which left the side ten points off La Liga leaders Real Madrid and eight from Catalan neighbours Girona.
It was a result which added to the 4-1 Spanish Supercopa final defeat to Real Madrid earlier this month and comes days after Barcelona exited the Copa del Rey following a quarter-final loss at Athletic Bilbao.
“I have decided I will not continue beyond June 30 (the end date of his contract),” Xavi said after Saturday’s match. “It is a common sense decision for the good of the club.
“I took this decision days ago. I already knew it. But it’s time to make it public.
“I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, butthe opposite.”
Xavi, 44, was appointed as Barcelona managed in November 2021 as the permanent successor to Ronald Koeman, and guided the club to the title in La Liga in his first full season in charge of the club.