Netherlands appoint Xavi as head coach through 2030 World Cup

AMSTERDAM: Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands on a contract running through the 2030 World Cup, the Dutch football federation said on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old Spaniard replaces Ronald Koeman and will take charge of a national team for the first time. Xavi has been out of coaching since leaving Barcelona in 2024 after three seasons in charge.

Koeman returned for a second spell as Netherlands coach in 2023, having previously led the team from 2018 to 2020. He guided the Dutch to the Euro 2024 semi-finals and the last 32 of this year’s World Cup, where they were eliminated by Morocco on penalties.

Koeman left the position after the tournament, paving the way for Xavi to begin his first international coaching role.

Xavi, who spent much of his playing career at Barcelona and won the 2010 World Cup with Spain, will become the Netherlands’ first foreign coach since Austria’s Ernst Happel led the team at the 1978 World Cup.

His appointment marks a new era for a Netherlands side that has traditionally relied on homegrown coaches.

Xavi’s first match in charge will come against Germany in the Nations League on Sept. 24, giving him an early opportunity to assess his squad and begin preparations for the next major international cycle.

The long-term contract through 2030 reflects the Dutch federation’s confidence in Xavi’s ability to oversee the team’s development over the next four years.