Xavi Hernandez - a legend of world football, a Spanish player who became one of the most influential and technically gifted players of his generation. He was born on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Spain, and displayed his football talent from a young age. Xavi became renowned for his outstanding passing skills and ball control. He possessed a unique ability to control the game on the field, distribute passes, and create attacks for his team.
He began his professional career in 1998, joining the youth team of Barcelona. Over time, he became an integral part of Barcelona's main squad and a product of the legendary La Masia academy. He spent 17 years at FC Barcelona, eventually becoming its captain and one of the main inspirations behind the "tiki-taka" style of play.
Xavi helped Barcelona win numerous domestic and international trophies, including 8 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. He became the heart and soul of the team, and his on-field leadership was invaluable to Barcelona's success during that period. Xavi is also a key figure for the Spanish national team. With the national squad, he won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
His intellectual approach to the game and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates made him an irreplaceable player for the national team. After leaving Barcelona in 2015, Xavi moved to Qatari club Al-Sadd, where he continued to showcase his skills and leadership. He helped the team win several national titles and became a symbol of football development in Qatar.
In addition to his playing career, Xavi has shown an interest in coaching. He has completed coaching courses and expressed a desire to one day manage his former team, Barcelona. Xavi Hernandez is not only a player of exceptional class but also a symbol of virtuosity, game reading ability, and leadership on the field. His style and contribution to world football will be remembered by generations of fans.
Speculation of who will succeed Xavi Hernandez this summer as Barcelona’s next manager has been heating up over the last couple of weeks. Several names have been linked with the position, as Deco and Joan Laporta get to work identifying the ideal candidate to take over the first team from next season onwards.
Hansi Flick has been touted as the leading candidate to take the job, amid reports that he is already making preparations for life in Catalonia. However, according to Diario AS at least, the German coach is not the preferred option to succeed Xavi at Barcelona – instead, it’s said to be Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.
De Zerbi is well regarded within Barcelona, and Laporta has reportedly asked for an in-depth report into the Italian, in order to fully determine whether he is the right man for the job. At this stage, he is the best candidate, and the report states that his representatives were told this during a meeting earlier this week.
The main problem for Barcelona is that De Zerbi has a €10m release clause at Brighton and Hove Albion, which will be difficult for them to pay because of their ongoing financial problems. Still, they’re prepared to enter into negotiations with the Premier League side in order to come to an agreement.
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