The first list of candidates who could be Xavi’s successor as Barcelona manager.
Xavi Hernández has initiated discussions surrounding his potential successor. Xavi, under contract until 2025 with an additional optional year, has declared his intention to depart FC Barcelona at the season’s end, affording ample time for Joan Laporta and the Barça sports leadership, led by Deco, to identify a replacement. This decision, already significant on its own, carries added weight given that it precedes the fulfillment of the mandate by just over two years.
According to Fernando Polo and Sergi Sole of Mundo Deportivo, the activation of the succession plan is now imperative. Although club sources confirm they have not yet taken concrete steps, it is evident that Laporta’s acceptance of Xavi’s decision has left the pathway open. Several names are under consideration for the coaching position, especially considering that options like Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, both tied to contracts until 2025 with Manchester City and PSG respectively, are unattainable. Some names have been proposed, while others have demonstrated commendable performance, making them suitable candidates to fill the impending vacancy at Barça.
Hansi Flick
Shifting focus, German football holds a particular appeal for Joan Laporta. During the midst of the 2021 election campaign, when Ronald Koeman was at the helm, Laporta openly expressed his admiration for figures like Julian Nagelsmann, the current German coach who was dismissed from Bayern in March 2023, and even contemplated Ralf Rangnick as a potential sports director. Nagelsmann is presently the Austrian coach with a ticket for Europe, having served as the interim coach of Manchester United from November 2021 to May 2022.
Another noteworthy mention was Laporta reaching out to Hansi Flick, with Koeman still in charge as the potential successor, just before Flick committed to coaching Germany in May 2021. However, Flick was subsequently dismissed last September after Germany failed to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup. Flick achieved considerable success at Bayern, winning the treble in 2020 alongside Lewandowski. Currently unemployed, Sport Bild has already linked him to a potential move to Barça.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel, though tied to Bayern until 2025, expressed on Sunday, “Moving abroad is something that continues to attract me, and Spain has an extraordinary league.”
Jurgen Klopp
Another German coach who has consistently garnered praise from Laporta, even prior to his return to the presidency, is Jürgen Klopp. On Friday, Klopp made headlines by announcing his departure from Liverpool after an impressive nine-year stint. While Klopp remains a coveted figure for many clubs, he declared during a press conference following a video release on Liverpool’s social networks that he plans to take a sabbatical year and has resolved never to coach an English team again. The potential for Laporta and Deco to sway his decision would need to be assessed if required, but as of now, it remains a distant possibility.
Imanol Alguacil
In a theoretical scenario involving a Spanish trajectory, a possibility dismissed by Michel just yesterday due to his existing contract until 2026 with Girona, Imanol Alguacil emerges as a prominent figure. Contractually tied to Real Sociedad until 2025, Laporta personally commended Alguacil’s work in November during an event at the Marca Awards. Alguacil’s dedication to an enticing style of football, enriched with emerging talents from the club’s youth system, stands as his most significant endorsement.
Thiago Motta
While not inherently possessing Barça DNA, Deco will wield significant influence. From his inner circle emerges Thiago Motta, a companion and former teammate at Barça (2004-07). Following his retirement from PSG in 2018, Motta assumed control of the Parisian club’s youth team before embarking on his coaching career in Serie A with Genoa, Spezia, and Bologna. Since September 2022, he has been a standout figure in the current ‘scudetto’ campaign, showcasing impressive football. Motta’s contract is set to conclude next June.
Mikel Arteta
Another ex-La Masia player who aligns seamlessly with the contemporary demand for offensive and modern football is Mikel Arteta. However, his contractual ties with Arsenal extend until 2025, coincidentally coinciding with the expiration of Guardiola’s contract at City. Arteta served as an assistant to Guardiola from 2016 to December 2019, and since then, he has orchestrated a revival for the Gunners, contending in the last and ongoing Premier League seasons while securing a return to the Champions League.
