Barcelona legend Xavi lands 1st coaching job weeks after hanging his boots
- Xavi Hernandez has been appointed heac coach of Qatart-based clubside Al Sadd
- The 39-year-old scored 21 goals in over 80 matches for the club since he joined them in 2015
- Xavi hanged his boots after spending four seasons with the Al Zaeem
Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has been appointed the manager of Qatar-based clubside Al Sadd on a two year deal.
The 39-year-old Spaniard, who announced his retirement from active football earlier this month scored 21 goals in over 80 appearances for the club
Before finally hanging his professional boots, Xavi ensured he lifted the Qatari Stars League title at the end of the 2018-19 season having joined them from Barcelona in 2015.
He also clinched the Emir of Qatar Cup in 2017, Qatar Cup and Sheikh Jassim Cup in the same year to cap off his illustrious career.
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According to Goal.com, the former Barca captain will be the coach of ex-La Liga rival, Gabi, who parted ways with Atletico Madrid last year.
Prior to his retirement, the former midfielder revealed that he expected to start his managerial career in Qatar.
"The idea is to start as a coach in Qatar, that there is not so much pressure, to prove myself and to gain experience, and the goal is to return to Europe and mainly to Barca," he told Marca.
Xavi spent 17 trophy-laden seasons at Barcelona since he made his debut at the club in 1998 before his eventual departure four years back.
"I've had very long career," he added. "I am calm and I have the goal of being a coach. I imagine that having a goal when you finish such a wonderful stage also makes everything seem easier.
"I see it [my retirement from playing] as my farewell to football, but I've done it all, I have the feeling that football has given me everything and I'm thankful.
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"My dream is to be a coach, transmit my experiences a bit. I have many concepts of football in my head and I would like to transmit them."
"My dream is to be a coach, transmit my experiences a bit. I have many concepts of football in my head and I would like to transmit them."
Xavi further revealed that he will fashion his playing style after Pep Guardiola, his former boss at the Camp Nou.
"The two that have marked me the most have been Luis Aragones in the national team and [Pep] Guardiola, in Barca," he continued.
"It's what I want to convey, I've grown up like that, I've really enjoyed this style, we've won with this style, Barca and the national team and, therefore, I think it's the best style to play football,"
Asked about speculation linking him as a replacement for Ernesto Valverde this summer, Xavi added: "I now start a race from scratch. I cannot take a Ferrari or a transatlantic, I have to start with a small boat, with a small car, go try, get experience and yes, it is true that the goal is to return to Barcelona."
Legit.ng earlier reported that Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez is set to hang his football boots and take up his first managerial job this summer.
The midfielder joined Al Sadd in 2015, after spending 17 tears at the Camp Nou with numerous titles to his credit.
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Source: Legit.ng