La Liga powerhouse Barcelona will have to look for a new manager in the summer. Barca’s current manager and legend, Xavi, announced he will step down from his position at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Xavi announced the news following Barcelona’s unexpected 5-3 loss to Villarreal on Saturday, which increased their gap behind league leaders Real Madrid.
“I would like to announce that I will not remain Barça manager beyond the end of this season,” Xavi said. “I had decided to leave a few days ago, but I think now is the right time to announce it to help reduce the tension that exists around the club. A change of dynamic is needed.”
Xavi added that he believes his decision is in the best interest of the club.
“No one is bigger than the club, and I am a supporter above all. I love this club,” he concluded.
Xavi took over his boyhood club midway through the 2021-22 campaign during a challenging period for the club. He managed to get the club from No. 9 to No. 2 on the standings by the end of the season and followed that up with a La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup trophy in 2022-23.
However, things didn’t go as planned this season for Xavi and Barcelona. The club has been in a crisis in recent months and has already been eliminated from Supercopa and Copa del Rey. Barca is sitting in third place in La Liga, with 10 points behind Real and eight points behind second-placed Girona.
The only hope for a successful season seems to be the UEFA Champions League, where Barca is through to the knockout stage and facing Napoli in the round of 16.
