Just last season, FC Barcelona clinched a LaLiga and Spanish Cup double, with manager and club legend Xavi Hernandez ending the side’s three-season trophy drought. Now, a full season later, he has confirmed he will be stepping down from his position as head coach. His decision to leave has not been met with any widespread disagreement, certainly not from outspoken club president Joan Laporta, and raises the question: Who will be next in charge of Barca? Even more so, how complicated is it for any manager to take over a job that has seemingly become a poisoned chalice? Soccer Laduma’s Lukhanyo Mtuta looks into the matter.
A fairy-tale reunion that turned into a short-lived honeymoon
The fairy-tale began in November 2021, when an icon and former captain at the club Xavi returned, taking over the reins from Dutchman Ronald Koeman, who had just been sacked following a string of underwhelming results and some alienating comments in the press about his team. Although he was inexperienced at that level, the then-41-year-old had enjoyed huge success with Qatari giants Al-Sadd, having steered them to six trophies in almost two-and-a- half seasons at their helm. At the Camp Nou, he had already become a popular candidate as he had the backing of newly-elected president Laporta, who was put on the throne in March that year after winning the election with a resounding 57.6%. It was a match made in heaven between Xavi and the club, with many viewing his appointment as the second coming of Pep Guardiola. Having been appointed in November of the 2021/22 campaign, the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner steered the club to a second-place finish in LALIGA behind champions Real Madrid. He received plaudits for his attractive, possession-based style of football, with young players such as Gavi and Pedri playing integral roles in midfield. This also came during the club’s first season without Lionel Messi, whose departure from the Catalan giants was the biggest symptom of the club’s financial troubles. Even more impressively, during his first full season in the Camp Nou dugout, he completed a league and cup double, finishing 10 points ahead of that season’s runners-up, Los Blancos.
