Xavi appointed Netherlands head coach, first non-Dutch since 1978

Former Barcelona manager Xavi has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands national team on 12 August 2026, the Dutch federation confirmed.

The 46-year-old played for Barcelona and Spain and won 25 honours during his playing career at Barcelona. He won three international trophies and was part of the Spain team that beat the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. Xavi retired in 2019 and moved into management with Al‑Sadd before taking charge of Barcelona in November 2021, where he won La Liga in his first full season.

Ronald Koeman resigned as Netherlands manager following a last-32 defeat by Morocco at this summer's World Cup.

Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot confirmed he held talks over the job but withdrew because he wants his next role to be in club football.

On his appointment Xavi said: "I consider it a tremendous honour to become head coach of the Dutch national team." He added: "As someone who received his training at Barca's academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football. You could say that I am partly a son of Dutch football. Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barca, and Frank Rijkaard, also played an important role in shaping me as a player and coach."

He becomes the first non-Dutch coach to take charge of the Netherlands since Austrian coach Ernst Happel stepped down in 1978.

Xavi has signed a four-year deal. It will be his first managerial job since he stepped down from Barcelona in 2024.