Xavi Hernandez and the Netherlands national team
Wednesday
The Netherlands have appointed former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez on a four-year contract through the 2030 World Cup. The 46-year-old becomes their first foreign head coach since Austrian Ernst Happel left the national-team position in 1978.
Xavi replaces Ronald Koeman after the Netherlands exited the World Cup against Morocco. Arne Slot withdrew from consideration and Roberto Martinez had entered talks, before the KNVB ultimately chose Xavi to begin his reign against Germany in September.