Xavi Hernandez, 46, has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands national football team, becoming the first foreign manager since Austrian Ernst Happel in 1978 [1, 2, 3].
Xavi signed a four-year contract that will run through the 2030 World Cup, also covering the Euro 2028 tournament [1, 3, 4]. He replaces Ronald Koeman, who resigned after the Netherlands' round-of-32 defeat to Morocco in the 2026 World Cup in June [1, 2, 3]. Koeman had returned as coach in 2023 for his second spell after previously managing the team from 2018 to 2020 [2, 5].
Before taking the Netherlands job, Xavi coached Barcelona from 2021 to 2024, winning the 2023 La Liga title and leaving after three seasons [1, 3, 6]. He started his managerial career at Al Sadd in Qatar [3, 6]. As a player, Xavi won the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Spain [1, 3].
Xavi said he feels a strong connection to Dutch football, calling himself “partly a son of Dutch football” because of influences from Johan Cruyff, Rinus Michels, Louis van Gaal, and Frank Rijkaard on his playing and coaching style [1, 3, 4]. He praised Dutch football’s emphasis on attack, possession, creativity, and passion, saying winning is key but should come with entertaining play [6].
Arne Slot engaged in talks to become Netherlands coach but withdrew to focus on club football. Slot said he prefers daily work on the training pitch, which a national role does not allow [6].
Xavi’s first match in charge will be a UEFA Nations League game against Germany at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam on September 24, 2026 [2, 3, 5].
