PETALING JAYA: Spanish football giants Barcelona have sacked manager Xavi, four weeks after confirming him in the job for the 2024-2025 season. Former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick is set to replace him.
Xavi will take charge of Barcelona for the final time on Sunday, when they host Sevilla in their last La Liga match of the season, the club announced in Madrid today.
Javi was informed of the club’s decision during a meeting with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco on Friday, the club said.
An announcement on the new first team structure would be announced in the next few days. Media reports have said Flick was set to take over.
Xavi, a former Spain midfielder, announced in January that he would leave the Camp Nou, but he was persuaded to stay by Laporta in April. However, Laporta was said to have been angered by recent comments by Xavi about the club’s financial struggles.
Xavi first left Barca as a player in 2015, and returned as the manager in 2021 to replace the departing Ronald Koeman.
The Spaniard led Barca to a La Liga title last season, the club’s first title since 2019 and their first without Lionel Messi since 1999. However, Barca struggled for consistency and form throughout the campaign and rarely pushed this season’s champions Real Madrid in the title race.
Flick, 59, has been out of work since being sacked by Germany in September 2023. He guided Bayern Munich to the treble, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in 2020.
