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Xavi as coach of Al-Sadd SC in Qatar
Photo:
KARIM JAAFAR / AFP
Club icon Xavi Hernández remains the favorite at FC Barcelona to succeed the released coach Ronald Koeman.
First of all, an interim coach is supposed to stop the rapid fall of the top Catalan club: Sergi Barjuán, coach of the B-team, will initially take over the team.
The club has confirmed that.
The 49-year-old has been with Barça since this summer and has already played for the club.
Barjuán will probably only stay for a short time.
After separating from Koeman, FC Barcelona agreed on a coaching contract with Xavi, according to a report in the Spanish newspaper »Sport«.
“Mundo Deportivo” also writes about the personnel.
The ex-professional is under contract in Qatar as head coach for Al-Sadd SC until 2023.
He had previously let his professional career come to an end at the club after 17 years in the Barça jersey.
With Barcelona, the Spaniard won four Champions League titles, with the national selection he won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and in 2010 he was world champion with Spain.
"Sport" also emphasized that negotiations still have to be carried out with Al-Sadd.
The contractual penalty for an early withdrawal from the coaching contract is set at one million euros.
FC Barcelona and Xavi did not initially comment.
In the premier class threatens the end
The troubled Catalan top club announced on the night that they had split from Koeman in six games after their fourth defeat.
“Barcelona's patience with Ronald Koeman has finally been used up,” wrote the newspaper “Marca”.
After ten games, FC Barcelona is stuck ninth in the middle of the table.
In the premier class, the group with FC Bayern Munich is already threatened with an early end, after three matchdays Barça are only in third place.
jan / dpa
