The club’s former captain and midfield icon confirmed the news of his departure following Saturday’s 5-3 home defeat to Villareal — a result which left the side ten points off league leaders Real Madrid and eight from Catalan neighbours Girona.
It was a result which added to the 4-1 Spanish Supercopa final defeat to Real Madrid earlier this month and comes days after Barcelona exited the Copa Del Rey following a quarter-final loss at Athletic Bilbao.
“I have decided I will not continue beyond June 30 (the end date of his contract),” Xavi said after Saturday’s match. “It is a common sense decision for the good of the club.
“I took this decision days ago. I already knew it. But it’s time to make it public.
“I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite.”
Xavi, 44, was appointed as Barcelona managed in November 2021 as the permanent successor to Ronald Koeman, and guided the club to the title in La Liga in his first full season in charge of the club.
However, he also oversaw the club’s elimination in back-to-back Champions league group stage campaigns and Barcelona also struggled in the Europa league , losing their quarter-final against Frankfurt in 2022 and in the knockout playoff round against Manchester United the following campaign.
Barcelona did progress through their Champions League group stage this campaign but it was marked by disappointing defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp, while the team have not been able to replicate their strong form that saw them secure the league title in 2022-23.
The club were defeated the first El Clasico of the season at home to Real Madrid, while Barcelona were also recently defeated 4-2 at home to high-flying Catalan neighbours Girona.
Xavi’s side have also dropped points against Gatefe, Mallorca, Granada, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia and Villarreal this season, seeing them slip to third in the standings behind Real Madrid and Girona.
Xavi ended Barcelona’s spell of three seasons without a league title after the club’s well-documented financial issues had a detrimental impact on their squad, with Lionel Messi among their high-profile playing departures.
Xavi also guided Barcelona to the Spanish Supercopa last season, but a drop off in performances and results this season ensures he will not continue beyond his contract which expires on June 30.
Having made 767 appearances for Barcelona as a player — only Messi (778) has more — Xavi initially joined Qatari club Al Sadd in 2015 before being appointed their manager in 2019, winning the nation’s league title in 2021.
