Xavi Hernandez Appointed Netherlands Coach to Restore Pride

Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new coach of the Netherlands national football team, succeeding Ronald Koeman on a four-year contract. In his first news conference, the 46-year-old emphasized his commitment to reviving the attacking football philosophy for which the Oranje are known.

He expressed that playing good football would lead to better results, stating, “We are here to compete, we are here to enjoy and we are here to win.” Xavi, who previously coached FC Barcelona and won the 2023 La Liga title, is the first foreign coach of the Netherlands in 48 years. Dutch Director of Football Nigel de Jong revealed that they had approached Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot before selecting Xavi.

His first match will be a Nations League clash against Germany on September 24, where he will face Jurgen Klopp. The Netherlands has a history of near misses in international tournaments, having lost three World Cup finals and only winning the Euro 1988.