Xavi Hernandez bid farewell as Barcelona coach with a 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Sunday, concluding the La Liga season. Despite finishing the season without any silverware, Barcelona managed to secure a win in Xavi’s final match in charge, following his dismissal by president Joan Laporta on Friday. Just weeks prior, Barcelona had announced that Xavi would remain as coach for the next season, despite his earlier declaration in January to resign in the summer.
Having taken on the role in November 2021, Xavi guided Barcelona to the Spanish title last season. However, this year, his team finished 10 points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid. It is anticipated that German coach Hansi Flick will be appointed as Xavi’s successor next week.
During the match, Robert Lewandowski scored first for Barcelona from close range, but Youssef En-Nesyri equalized for Sevilla. Sevilla’s coach, Quique Sanchez Flores, is also set to leave at the end of the season.
One of Xavi’s accomplishments as coach has been to provide opportunities for young players, such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and midfielder Fermin Lopez. Lopez, aged 21, put Barcelona ahead in the second half with a well-placed strike from outside the area, and afterward, he embraced Xavi as a gesture of farewell.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona’s goalkeeper, expressed gratitude for Xavi’s dedication and friendship, acknowledging the impact he had both professionally and personally. Before the game, some Sevilla fans protested against the board by wearing black and entering the game 10 minutes late, reflecting their dissatisfaction with the club’s disappointing campaign. Sevilla finished in the 14th position in the league.
