Xavi becomes first foreigner to coach Oranje since 1978

Xavi Hernandez has been named as the successor to Ronald Koeman as head coach of the Netherlands national team, becoming its first foreign boss in 48 years, the country's soccer association announced on Wednesday.

The Barcelona great, who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain as a player, has not held a head coaching job since leaving the Camp Nou in 2024.

Xavi has signed a four-year deal, which means he will lead the Oranje's Euro 2028 and 2030 World Cup campaigns.

"As someone who received his training at the Barcelona academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football," said the 46-year-old former midfielder. "You could say that I am a bit of a son of Dutch football.

"Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barcelona, and Frank Rijkaard, also played an important role in shaping me as a player and coach."

Koeman stepped down after his second spell in charge of the Dutch team ended with a round-of-32 defeat on penalties to Morocco.

Ex-Liverpool manager Arne Slot reportedly held initial talks with the Dutch association, but preferred to stay in club soccer.

Xavi's first match at the helm will be a Nations League clash with rival Germany at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam on Sept 24.

He is the Netherlands' first foreign boss since Austrian Ernst Happel, whose side reached the 1978 World Cup final, where it lost to Argentina.

"The Netherlands has a rich football culture and a clear vision that also appeals to me enormously — attacking football, based on possession, with creativity, passion and conviction," Xavi added.

"Of course, the most important goal is, and will always be, to win, but I prefer to do so in a way that reflects those characteristics and that people can enjoy.

"The potential for this is there, as well as a solid foundation to build upon."

Xavi, whose first coaching role was with Qatari club Al Sadd, won the 2023 La Liga title with Barca, but was sacked at the end of the following season and replaced by Hansi Flick.

"As a player alone, Xavi has experienced and won everything, with a World Cup, multiple national titles and Champions League titles to his name," Netherlands' football director Nigel de Jong, who famously kicked Xavi's then-teammate Xabi Alonso in the chest during the 2010 World Cup final, said.

"As a coach, he has been shaped by years of working with top coaches who espouse a football vision that aligns very well with the way we want to play."

The Dutch are still attempting to shed their nearly men tag, having lost three World Cup finals, the most of any nation in history to have never lifted the trophy.

AFP