Xavi Hernández, 46 years old, was presented this Tuesday to the Dutch press as the new coach of the Netherlands national football team by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). The former Spanish midfielder has signed until 2030 and appeared before the national media in an event broadcast live by the public television NOS. Xavi immediately experienced one of the characteristics of the local character: a frankness bordering on bluntness. “You were the third option for this position [after Guardiola and the Dutch Arne Slot], what do you think?” They asked him in English. “It is an honor for me, I don’t care what position I was on the list,” Xavi replied with good command of English.
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The tension had started in the press room shortly before, with questions posed to Nigel de Jong, director of elite football at the Dutch federation. “Were there no other coaches in Suriname or the Caribbean [the former Dutch Antilles]? Was it necessary to hire a foreigner?” they challenged him. “We are delighted with our choice. Xavi is the right person at this moment,” De Jong replied.
Xavi assured that he is “a winner” and that he has come to the Dutch team “to compete,” as well as graphically describing his stance. During his presentation, the most illustrious citizen of Terrassa said that his football will be “attacking, ball possession at all times, and offensive,” with a playing system of 4-3-3; 4-2-3-1; or 3-4-3. Then, he gave a graphic example of his stance: “I come to Holland, which is the university of football, I have learned a lot in my career, and the most important thing is to create a team, a family, to show everyone our passion, desire, and ambition,” he declared. In that fictitious football university, they told him: “You are the professor, not a student.” “I know, I am here to help everyone, players and the technical team. I understand that I am a foreigner, but I am a winner and I am ready,” he emphasized. “We are here to compete and to win. Thank you for trusting me.”
Welcome in Zeist, Xavi! 🧡#NothingLikeOranje #Xavi2030 pic.twitter.com/Rfke70lPXk
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) August 24, 2026
The new Netherlands coach has stated that he will get in touch with several players regardless of where they are or their age. “Including the Dutch players who play in Saudi Arabia?” they asked him. “Why not? We don’t have a closed list.” So far, he has spoken with Frenkie de Jong and Virgil van Dijk. The young Kees Smit is also in the spotlight. The new coach has three weeks left to present the squad for his first match against Germany in the Nations League on September 24 (20:45), where Jürgen Klopp will also debut. “There are many talented footballers,” he recalled. “Why is Spanish football so good, what have we lost in the Netherlands?” was another question. “We have created a structure from the federation. Here they want to change many things and there will be new energy. I want 18 million Dutch people to be proud of their national team.”
Asked about the greatest lesson he learned from Johan Cruyff, he indicated that he was in contact with him in the last stage of the legendary Dutch forward’s life. “He was always a positive person, that is what I want to do,” he said. “I want to help the players and enjoy the game. If we play good football and are offensive, we will win.”
After his time on the benches of Al-Sadd and FC Barcelona, the former captain of the Spanish national team now replaces Ronald Koeman, who announced his departure after the 2026 World Cup in which the Netherlands was eliminated in the round of 16 against Morocco in a penalty shootout.
In the technical staff chosen by Xavi Hernández there will be four assistants: former players Ruud van Nistelrooy and Adil Ramzi, Dutch and Moroccan, respectively. The first was Koeman’s assistant coach in the national team; the second coached the Netherlands under-18 and under-19 teams. They will also be accompanied by Spaniards Sergio Alegre and Óscar Hernández — Xavi’s brother. Iván Torres will be the new physical trainer, and Patrick Lodewijks will continue as goalkeeping coach, a role he has held since 2018.
The Spanish midfielder is the first foreign coach of the Oranje team since 1978, although since 1905, it has had a long list of coaches of other nationalities. Among them have been British, Austrians, a German, and a Romanian. “If you choose someone who loves Dutch football and who has always played and coached with Johan Cruyff as a reference, then [Xavi] is an excellent choice,” former footballer Rafael van der Vaart said to the public channel on August 13.
Xavi debuted as a player in Barcelona’s first team in 1998. The coach at that time was the Dutch Louis van Gaal and later won the Champions League in 2006 under the orders of the also Dutch Frank Rijkaard.
