It's been over a year since Xavi Hernandez was sacked by Barcelona, and as such, he is expected to return to the bench soon. The 45-year-old had decided to take a year off after leaving Catalonia, but that deadline is coming to an end.
Now, Xavi will begin to consider his next club. Over the past 12 months, he has been linked with several clubs in both Europe and Asia, including Manchester United, Juventus and Ajax. But his next adventure could be in a region he is already familiar with.
Xavi's first coaching job was at Qatari club Al-Sadd, and a return to the Middle East seems likely. According to The Athletic, he is one of the candidates being considered by Saudi club Al Ahli.
Matthias Jaissle is currently the coach of Al Ahli, but he has been linked with a possible move to RB Leipzig. If that happens, Xavi is well placed to take over – however, he will face competition from former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou.
If Xavi were to move to Al Ahli, he would reunite with Franck Kessie, who he had under his command at Barcelona. However, such a move is not seen as highly likely, as the Spaniard is believed to be prioritising a return to Europe.
It remains to be seen where Xavi will continue his coaching career. He is willing to wait for the right opportunity, and therefore there is a possibility that he will postpone his return until early 2026. However, it will be interesting to see where he ends up, when he decides to return to the world of football.
edition
t7 live
