Barcelona will have a new manager next season. Xavi Hernández has announced that he will be leaving his beloved boyhood club when the 2023-24 season ends in June.
The 44-year-old manager led Barça to the La Liga title in his first full season in charge, but his results have slumped significantly this year, with his side suffering a shock 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal on Saturday. The difference with Real Madrid was 10 points. .
“Things need to change, and as a clue, [a Barcelona fan] I can't allow this to happen. I made this decision a few days ago, but it's time to make it public. I don't want to be a problem for the club,” Xavi told reporters.
“[I am] I'm thinking about the club, the players, and the coach. As a clubman, I think it's best to go on June 30th. I will do my best during these four months. I think we can still have a great season. I accept this decision calmly. That's common sense. ”
We have identified five potential successors.
Roberto De Zerbi
“De Zerbi is likely to be a common option for both clubs, but Barcelona still need some time to decide on their final choice,” transfer official Fabrizio Romano recently wrote in Caught Offside. and made it clear.
“It's very easy to put names like De Zerbi and Xabi Alonso in these clubs, but they are strong candidates across Europe, but when it comes to Barcelona, I can guarantee you that it will take time, because João “Because it's not just Laporta that has to be decided, but also other people who are on the Barça board, including Deco. ”
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, it will be interesting to consider which names both Barcelona and Liverpool are currently considering. De Zerbi's uncompromising attacking style would make him an exciting choice, but they may compete for his characteristics.
🚨 Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is the most likely to replace Xavi as Barcelona's next manager this summer.
reference: @MailSport pic.twitter.com/N3KDAwI55y
— Kickers XI (@kickersXi) January 28, 2024
Rafael Marquez
For the former player who is currently doing well with Barça B, the in-house option certainly ticks a lot of boxes, especially as it is much cheaper than many big-name players on the market. .
Marquez made no secret of his desire to take the top spot.
“It's part of the process,” Marquez said ( Metro).
“If it has to happen to me, it will come. Who doesn't want to be Barça's coach? It's only my second year as coach, but I want to keep working hard.
“The board will have time to think carefully between now and the end of the season. But we can't say no to an opportunity like this.”
Thiago Motta
The former Italy international signed for Barcelona aged just 17 and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club, rising through the youth ranks and B team.
That background will serve him well, but he has also proven himself to be a very promising manager at Bologna. He gave them more punch than they were capable of in Serie A, leaving them sixth in the table and in contention for a place in the Champions League.
We've been eager for Motta to take the top job ever since he floated the innovative idea of a 2-7-2 formation when he first started as a youth coach in 2018.
“My idea is to play attackingly, a team that is short and controls the game, high pressure and a lot of movement with and without the ball,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. Told.
“The player with the ball always has three or four solutions and you want two teammates nearby to help you.'' The difficulty of football is that often it's not just about doing things simply. , control the bases, pass, and get free. I don't like numbers on the field because they deceive me.
“In a 5-3-2 you can be very attacking and in a 4-3-3 you can be very defensive. There were games where people ended up playing as numbers 9 and 10. But that doesn't mean I don't like natural defenders like Samuel or Chiellini.
“Is it possible to have a 2-7-2? No, the goalkeeper counts as one of the seven in midfield. For me, the attacker is the first defender and the goalkeeper is the first attacker. . The goalkeeper starts the play with his feet and the attacker is the first to apply pressure to win the ball back.”
Yes, please.
Marcelo Gallardo
It was only recently that Gallardo gained a reputation as the next big club after his impressive achievements with River Plate and continued links with some of Europe's biggest clubs.
But in November, the Argentine signed an 18-month contract with Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo as a high-profile player. It's not impossible that Gallardo could consider leaving Saudi Arabia by the summer. Al Ittihad is out of the title picture, is not performing well and is reportedly at odds with star man Karim Benzema.
Xavi himself has been poached from leagues in the Middle East and they may look to the same region for his successor.
Read: The magic of Marcelo Gallardo: loved by Pep and linked to Barça…
Mikel Arteta
long shot. Sporting director Deco is reportedly a fan, while reports from Spain suggest he is on the shortlist of three. Actually hitting the target is another story entirely, especially given their financial instability.
Arteta's contract at Arsenal runs until 2025 and he appears to be perfectly aligned with the club's hierarchy in moving things forward. It would be a huge shock to see him leave Emirates soon.
However, he has established himself as one of the best young managers in Europe and is constantly linked with a return to Barcelona. Despite not making any first-team appearances, Arteta honed his skills at La Masia and began his career with Barça B.
Read next: Where are they now? Barcelona's Xavi's first game as manager in 2021
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