Izuchukwu Okosi
Before his appointment, Xavi was the head coach of Saudi Arabian side Al Saad and will now be the new boss of his former team following the sack of Ronald Koeman.
The legendary Xavi will take charge of the club he left as a player in 2015 following 17 years of extraordinary success.
Al-Sadd confirmed the decision to let their coach leave for his onetime stomping ground after a compensation fee was paid by the Barcelona hierarchy: ‘‘The administration agreed on the transfer of Xavi to Barcelona after paying the penalty clause stipulated in the contract.
‘’We agreed with Barcelona on practical cooperation in the future, Xavi is an important part of the history. We wish him all success in the next stage.’
Xavi, 41, won LaLiga eight times and the Champions League four times as a player at the Nou Camp – as well as the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain – before ending his career with Al-Sadd.
It remains to be seen whether Xavi will be in charge for Saturday’s LaLiga clash against Celta Vigo, with his first game more likely to be after the international break in the derby against Espanyol on November 20.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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