La Liga giants Barcelona won’t have to look for a new head coach this summer after all. Barca’s boss, Xavi, changed his mind about leaving the club and will now remain in his position until the end of his contract in 2025.
Xavi had a meeting with Barca’s president, Joan Laporta, on Wednesday, and they agreed to continue the current project. The news was officially announced during a press conference on Thursday.
“Today, I have the satisfaction of informing you that Xavi will continue as the coach of Barça,” said Laporta.
“I’m a huge Barça fan. I have a high level of trust with the president and the board of directors. The complicity and support of the players has also been key,” added Xavi.
Xavi initially announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2023-24 season in January after a disappointing 5-3 loss to Villarreal in La Liga. At the time, Xavi said he felt that the club needed a new voice while also adding that the pressure that comes with coaching Barca has started to wear him off.
Since then, Barcelona embarked on an impressive run that saw them go undefeated in 13 games in all competitions. The streak ended with a 4-1 loss in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain. Barca followed that up with a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico.
Xavi was hired as Barca’s head coach in the summer of 2021. He guided the club to the La Liga title and Supercopa trophy in 2022–23, after which he signed an extension that runs through the 2024-25 season with an option for one additional year.
