5/23/24, 9:05 PM Xavi - Wikipedia

Netherlands and Denmark. Xavi and Andrés Iniesta made 229 passes in
the match, more than the combined Irish team managed. "Pum, pum,
pum, pum" was how Xavi described the rhythmic sound of the ball
moving between himself and his midfield partner.[89]

With Xavi providing two assists in the final, for Jordi Alba and Fernando
Torres, he became the first player to register assists in two European
Championship finals.[17] Spain's UEFA Euro 2012 victory made Xavi the
most decorated player in Spanish football history, a status that he
Xavi (left) turns away from
previously shared with Carles Puyol, who missed the tournament.[17]
Italy's Riccardo Montolivo in
the Euro 2012 final.
Retirement
On 5 August 2014, following the 2014 World Cup where Spain were eliminated at the group stage, Xavi
announced his retirement from international football, having made 133 appearances in a 14-year
period.[90][91] Spain's World Cup-winning manager Vicente del Bosque paid tribute, stating that Xavi
was "a key part of the team's style of play" and "he was more important to us than even the manager",
also adding, "We will miss him both on and off the pitch. He is a player who we hold in great esteem
both personally and as a player. He is and always will be a person and a player who is greatly valued by
the federation, the coaching staff and by myself."[92]

Managerial career

Al Sadd
On 28 May 2019 it was announced that Xavi would take over as manager
of Al Sadd on a two-year contract.[93][94] Xavi helped the club reach the
semi-finals of the AFC Champions League, where they were eliminated by
Al-Hilal FC 6–5 on aggregate.[95] In the league, the club finished third. In
the 2019–20 season, Xavi led his team to win one domestic trophy, the
Qatar Cup. In the 2020 AFC Champions League, Al Sadd reached the
round of 16 but were eliminated 1–0 by Persepolis.[96][73] During his 97
games in charge of Al Sadd, spanning two and a half years, he led the club
to seven trophies.[97]

On 3 November 2021, Al Sadd drew 3–3 against Al-Duhail in his final

game in-charge. Two days later Al Sadd announced Xavi's move to
Barcelona after his release clause was paid.[98] Xavi managing Al Sadd in
an AFC Champions League
match against Sepahan, 18
Barcelona February 2020
On 6 November 2021, Xavi returned to his former club Barcelona as the
new manager replacing Ronald Koeman, on a contract until June
2024.[99] Following his arrival, Xavi implemented stricter rules for the players which included re-
introduction of fines, early arrival for training and tracking of players' off pitch activities.[100][101][102]

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In his first game in charge, Barcelona defeated local rival Espanyol by a 1–0 scoreline at the Camp Nou
in La Liga to win his first Catalan Derby as manager.[103] On 4 December, Xavi suffered his first defeat
as Barcelona manager after losing 1–0 to Real Betis at home in La Liga.[104] In Xavi's first Champions
League campaign, he took charge with two group stage matches remaining. After drawing 0–0 with
Benfica at the Camp Nou on 23 November and losing 3–0 to Bayern Munich on 8 December at the
Allianz Arena, Barcelona finished third in the group stage which put them in the Europa League
knockout round play-offs.[105][106]

On 12 January 2022, in his first Clásico in charge, Barcelona were beaten by Real Madrid 2–3 at the
end of extra-time in the Supercopa de España semi-final.[107] Barcelona suffered an early exit from the
Copa del Rey after being beaten by Athletic Bilbao 3–2 at the end of extra-time in the round of 16.[108]
In the winter transfer window, Barcelona strengthened their attack with the signings of Ferran Torres
and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traoré on loan. After a difficult first few months for
Xavi, Barcelona quickly turned around their form with the new signings playing a big role in the
process. The team entered a 14-match unbeaten streak starting with a 0–1 victory over Alavés in La
Liga, during this run they scored four goals in 6 out of 11 matches and also qualified for the quarter-
finals of the Europa League. On 20 March, Xavi won his first Clásico as manager beating Real Madrid
0–4 in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabéu ending their five-match Clásico losing streak and extending
their unbeaten run to 12 matches.[109][110] On 14 April, Xavi and his men who were on the verge of a
monumental comeback, were knocked out of the UEL quarter-finals by Eintracht Frankfurt, bringing
their fifteen-game unbeaten run to an end.[111] In La Liga, he led Barcelona to a second-placed finish
from ninth position when he took charge.[112][113]

In the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, Barcelona finished third in their group behind Bayern
Munich and Inter Milan to drop to the Europa League for the second consecutive season.[114] On 15
January 2023, Barcelona won their first title under Xavi, following a 3–1 victory against Real Madrid
in the Supercopa de España Final.[115] On 14 May 2023, Barcelona clinched the 2022–23 La Liga title
after defeating rivals Espanyol 4–2, with Xavi leading the club to its first league title since the 2018–19
season.[116] On 22 September 2023, it was announced that he extended his contract at the club until
2025.[117]

A string of disappointing results across December and January, including 4–1 and 4–2 cup losses to
Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao respectively, led to increased pressure and scrutiny on Xavi.[118]
Following a 3–5 home loss to Villarreal on 27 January, leaving the club 10 points behind league leaders
Real Madrid, he announced that he would leave the club after the conclusion of the season.[119]

On 16 April 2024, he was sent off after a display of dissent towards referee István Kovács during the
Champions League quarter-final clash between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. During the post-
match press conference, Xavi expressed that the red card given to Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo
by the Romanian referee was a pivotal moment that significantly influenced the outcome of the
game.[120]

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