Barcelona announced on its official website the dismissal of Xavi as head coach of the team at the end of the season.

“Barcelona would like to thank Xavi for his work as a coach, which complements his unprecedented career as a player and team captain, and wish him the best of luck in the future. This Sunday in Seville, Xavi will play his last match as head coach of the Barcelona first team, the club said in a statement.

On January 27, Barcelona suffered a crushing defeat from Villarreal with a score of 3:5 in the home match of the 22nd round of the Spanish Championship. After the game, Xavi announced his intention to leave the post of head coach at the end of the season, explaining his decision by the need to change the direction of the club's development. However, the specialist later changed his mind and decided to stay, but Barcelona management decided to terminate the employment agreement with him.

In the current 2023/24 season, Real Madrid won the Spanish champion title ahead of schedule. Barcelona currently ranks second in the standings with 79 points. Girona is in third place, four points behind the blue garnets. The teams have two matches left to play before the end of the championship.

Earlier it became known that former Bayern Munich head coach Hans-Dieter Flick could replace Xavi as Barcelona coach. Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported this on his social networks. Prior to this, Flick refused to lead Chelsea in London.