Xavi Hernandez will bring his Barcelona experience to the Netherlands national team as he’s been named the replacement for Ronald Koeman and will lead the team through the 2030 World Cup.
Call it Reverse Cruyff, if you will.
Koeman, of course, is a former Dutch international star who played so well for Barcelona who played for Dutch legend Johan Cruyff at Barca from 1989-1995.
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Cruyff was credited with bringing a new culture and revolutionary system to the Blaugranas, spawning a so-called ‘Dream Team’ that would shake the football world and permeate deep into the foundations of Barca’s La Masia academy.
Xavi, of course, was a product of that system, entering Barca’s set-up in 1991 and thriving in what he’d later call an “Ajax model that is all about rondos.”
Now Xavi will be expected to bring about change for a Netherlands side which was criticized for playing atypically defensive and safe at the World Cup.
The 46-year-old Xavi started as a boss at Qatar’s Al Sadd and won plenty, then headed home to win La Liga as Barca’s coach in 2022-23 as part of three seasons at the helm. He’s been out of management since that run ended in 2024.
Xavi is one of the most complete midfielders of all-time, an eight-time La Liga and four-time Champions League winner — many of those trophies coming under Pep Guardiola, a Cruyff disciple. He also was a key cog in Spain’s incredible EURO-World Cup-EURO run from 2008-2012.
The Orange have never won the World Cup but are three-time finalists and twice played in third-place games as well.
Semifinalists at EURO 2024 before bowing out of the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 32, Hernandez will look to bring style, swagger, and silverware to a men’s national team seeking a first major trophy since EURO 1988.
We proudly present our new head coach. 🇳🇱⁰⁰Welcome, Xavi Hernández! 🧡#NothingLikeOranje #Xavi2030 pic.twitter.com/9aOpc9J53S
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) August 12, 2026
