Xavi ends career – Barca returns?

Xavi Hernandez ended his career as a player on Monday evening. The 39-year-old was bid farewell in the Qatari league by Al-Sadd and is now planning a career as a coach.

“Now I’m starting my career from scratch,” Xavi told Efe. FC Barcelona’s long-time midfielder wants to take it step by step: “I can’t start directly with a Ferrari or a cruise ship. I have to start with a small boat, a small car.”

The Catalan now wants to “test himself” and gain more experience as a coach, Xavi was already working in Qatar as a co-coach: “I want to start here in Qatar. There’s not much pressure here, I can try myself.”

The declared goal, however, remains the return to Europe: “Of course it is my goal to return to Barcelona. But I’m calm.” Those in charge of FC Barcelona had already stressed in the past that Xavi was a potential coach in the club’s future.

For FC Barcelona, Xavi played 769 matches, scored 85 goals and presented 182. He won the Champions League four times, the Spanish championship eight times, became World Champion and European Champion twice. In 2015, he moved to Qatar and ended his career there in 85 games.