Xavi’s Journey at Barcelona: A Ride Full of Ups and Downs and Surprises

When will Xavi retire as Barcelona coach?

Xavi Hernández, our beloved Barcelona legend, surprised everyone when he said he’d step down as head coach on June 30, 2024.

This shocker came after a tough 5-3 loss to Villarreal, which left us 10 points behind Real Madrid in La Liga.

Xavi told us he wanted to help the club, just like he did when he first took over.

He felt it was time for a change, and leaving at the end of the season would give us that chance.

Even though he planned to leave, Xavi promised to give his best in the remaining months, hoping to win some trophies for Barcelona.

But then, in a twist, he changed his mind and decided to stay as coach until his contract ended in 2025.

This sudden change happened after he met with our club president, Joan Laporta. Xavi wanted to keep helping the team move forward.

Key Highlights of Xavi’s Coaching Tenure at Barcelona

  • 2021-22 Season: No trophies, out of Champions League and Europa League.
  • 2022-23 Season: Won La Liga and Spanish Super Cup, exited Champions League in quarterfinals.
  • 2023-24 Season: Announced exit, reversed decision, then sacked in May 2024. Managed 141 games with 2.06 points/game overall.

What was the reason for Xavi’s decision to step down as Barcelona coach? 

Xavi had a few reasons for thinking about stepping down:

  • Bad Results and Performances: The 2023-24 season was really hard. We had some disappointing results, like losses to Real Madrid and Girona, and a bad draw. The 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal was the last straw. Xavi thought his leaving might help “unblock the team and the mood.”
  • Mental Strain: Xavi said the job was really hard on him. He said, “I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite. I believe this decision will help unblock the team and the mood in here.” He decided to leave days before the Villarreal loss, showing how stressed he was.
  • Loss of Authority: Some people thought that Deco, who President Laporta brought in, made Xavi feel like he had less control over the team. Deco was getting more involved in transfers and decisions, which might’ve made him feel less powerful.

Despite all these problems, Xavi decided to stay and help the team finish the season strong.

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What was Xavi’s record as Barcelona’s coach?

Xavi’s time as coach from November 2021 to May 2024 had its ups and downs:

First Season (2021-22)

  • No trophies won.
  • Knocked out of the Champions League group stage.
  • Out in the Europa League quarterfinals.
  • Finished 2nd in La Liga.

Second Season (2022-23)

  • Won the La Liga title, our first since 2018-19.
  • Won the Spanish Super Cup, beating Real Madrid 3-1.
  • Knocked out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals.

Third Season (2023-24)

  • Announced he’d leave in January 2024 after the Villarreal loss.
  • Changed his mind in April, agreed to stay until June 2025.
  • Sacked by Barcelona on May 24, 2024, just before the season ended.

Overall Record

  • Managed Barcelona for 141 games in all competitions.
  • Averaged 2.06 points per game, the second-worst among managers since Pep Guardiola.
  • Won 1 La Liga title and 1 Spanish Super Cup.
Xavi's Journey at Barcelona: Ups, Downs, and Surprises
Xavi Hernández

What was Barcelona’s win-loss record under Xavi?

While we don’t have all the details, here’s what we know about Xavi’s record:

  • In La Liga, Xavi had 50 wins, 10 draws, and 10 losses after 70 matches.
  • By November 2023, Xavi had coached 107 competitive games with 67 wins, 19 draws, and 21 losses.
  • Overall, Xavi did well in domestic games but had trouble in European competitions, especially the Champions League.

How many trophies did Xavi win as Barcelona coach?

Xavi won two big trophies as our head coach:

  • La Liga Title (2022-23): This win was our first league title since 2018-19.
  • Spanish Super Cup (2022-23): We beat Real Madrid 3-1 to win the Super Cup.

In Closing

Xavi Hernández’s time as Barcelona’s head coach was full of emotions, challenges, and victories.

His initial decision to step down, driven by poor results, mental strain, and loss of authority, was later reversed to try and lead the team to success.

Despite the challenges, Xavi’s love and dedication to Barcelona make his legacy as both a player and coach truly special.

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Grace Taylor is a dedicated writer at Viz Times, bringing stories to life with her unique flair. Before joining the Viz Times family, she honed her skills at The Sporting News. With a Master’s in Sports Media from Arizona State University, her work has graced platforms like Medium.com, SB Nation, and FanSided. Beyond writing, Grace is a loving wife, mother of two, and an enthusiastic tennis player.