New coach Xavi Hernandez promises Netherlands new energy after poor World Cup
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Xavi Hernandez at his presentation as the head coach of the Dutch national team in Zeist, Netherlands, on Aug 25.
PHOTO: EPA
AMSTERDAM – Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez is promising an attractive style of football but, more importantly, a desire to win during his tenure with the national team.
The former Barcelona midfield great and later coach has signed a four-year deal through the next World Cup and promised he would look to inject new energy into the Dutch, who were eliminated in the last 32 at the 2026 edition.
“We have many talented players, but the most important thing for me is to create a team, a group and football-wise we want to create a very brave team to dominate the game, to take the initiative with the ball,” the 46-year-old, who succeeded Ronald Koeman, told a press conference on Aug 25.
“And at the same time, our goal is to show to everybody a team with passion, with desire and ambition. This is very important for me as a coach.”
“I remember when I was a kid watching the Netherlands, you could watch good football. And this is my target – to play good football in order to be proud,” he added.
Asked which was more important, attractive football or results, Xavi replied: “Both.”
“We are here to compete, we are here to enjoy and we are here to win. I insist we are here to win. I believe a lot in this project. I believe a lot in the players and I’m really excited to start.”
Xavi is the first foreigner in almost 50 years to take charge of the Dutch – since Ernst Happel at the 1978 World Cup – but already describes himself as a devotee of the Dutch “total football” approach which the likes of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff introduced at Barca, where the Spaniard played most of his career.
“I understand now that I’m a foreigner here but I learnt a lot from the Dutch way of playing and what I learnt, I want to return here to the federation.
“I’m here to help all the players, all the staff. I’m here to create a big family in order to win. This is the main goal, and this is our objective now as a staff, and especially me as a head coach.
“I understand where I am and I feel this pressure, but I love this kind of pressure and I’m a winner. This is what I show during my career as a player and as a coach, and I’m ready.”
Xavi, who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain as a player, beating the Netherlands in the final, had not held a head coaching job since leaving the Camp Nou in 2024.
Dutch director of football Nigel de Jong, who was on the losing side during the 2010 World Cup final, revealed that they had approached former Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and former Liverpool manager Arne Slot before settling on Xavi.
“Well, it’s not a bad position after Guardiola and after Slot, no?” joked Xavi. “I don’t care if I’m the third or I’m the 10th one.”
Xavi will announce his first squad in three weeks ahead of a tough debut in the Nations League against Germany in Amsterdam on Sept 24.
Facing him on the sidelines will be another national management rookie, Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp.
“I feel excited, I feel motivated because we are playing against Germany, one of the best teams in Europe, and one of the best coaches in recent years, Jurgen Klopp,” he said.
Xavi won four Champions Leagues with Barcelona during an illustrious playing career, and sits second on their all-time list of most appearances for the Catalan giants, behind only Lionel Messi.
Nicknamed the “Maquina” (the Machine in Spanish), Xavi was the midfield metronome who came to define a style of football which dominated the game for the best part of a decade.
If it were not for Messi, Xavi surely would have won the Ballon d’Or, an award for which he finished third three times in a row, behind only Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca teammate Andres Iniesta. REUTERS, AFP