It is now over a year since Xavi Hernandez was sacked as Barcelona manager, and he is soon ready to return to the coaching role. The 45-year-old chose to take a sabbatical year after losing his job in Catalonia, and this period is now effectively over.
Thus, Xavi begins to consider his next club. In the last 12 months, he has been linked with several clubs both in Europe and Asia, including Manchester United, Juventus and Ajax. But his next challenge may be in a part of the world he knows well.
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Al Ahli considers bringing in former Barcelona coach Xavi
Xavi’s first coaching job was with Qatari club Al-Sadd, and a return to the Middle East could be on the horizon. According to The Athletic, he is one of the candidates Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli is considering.
Al Ahli currently has Matthias Jaissle as coach, but he is linked to RB Leipzig. If this position becomes available, Xavi is well placed to take over – although he will then compete with former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
If Xavi were to take over Al Ahli, he would be reunited with Franck Kessie, whom he coached during his stay at Barcelona. However, this is unlikely to happen, as the Spaniard is expected to prioritise a coaching job in Europe.
It remains to be seen where Xavi will continue his coaching career. He is willing to wait for the right opportunity, which means he can postpone his return until early 2026. Either way, it will be interesting to see where he ends up when the time comes for his return to football.
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