Xavi and Barcelona parted ways a month after it was announced he would remain manager.
The 44-year-old former Spain international announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the season in January but was persuaded to reverse his decision in April.
However, in the latest development in this saga, his decision to leave the club comes just 30 days after announcing he would run out of contract until 2025.
Xavi, along with assistants Oscar Hernandez and Sergio Alegre, met with president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco at the club’s training ground on Friday and decided that Sunday’s La Liga finale against Sevilla will be his final game as manager.
“Barcelona would like to thank Xavi for adding coaching achievements to his unique career as a player and captain, and wish him all the best,” a club statement said.
They added that they would announce details of the new first-team structure “in the coming days”.
Former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick is set to replace Xavi, with a formal announcement due to be made next week.
Flick set to be confirmed as Xavi’s successor (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Flick, 59, won the treble with the Bundesliga club in the 2019-20 season but has been without work since being released by the Germany national team in September.
The Barca managerial role will be his first job outside Germany in his career.
Xavi’s contract was valid until the summer of 2025, but it remains to be seen what the financial implications of his departure and those of his coaching staff will be, and what their salaries will be.
A month ago, while his resignation was still valid, Xavi agreed to write off his salary for the remainder of his contract.
The win over Almeria earlier this month was Xavi’s 100th game in charge – only Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique have a better record in that number of games.
It was announced in April that Xavi would stay. (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
Xavi, amid growing speculation over his future, requested a meeting with Laporta ahead of Sunday’s La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano but the request did not materialise.
Ahead of the match, Xavi insisted there had been no change in his position and that he still had the support of Laporta and Deco.
“I can’t add anything new, the club gives me peace of mind,” he said. “I will stay with the same enthusiasm to face what’s left for this season and next. We have a planned project and nothing will change.”
Asked where the noise about his future was coming from, he said: “I don’t know who is talking and I don’t care. What I care about is that, as far as I know, the president’s support remains the same and so does Deco.”
“They say nothing has changed. I understand your questions and your job, but that’s all I can say. This is Barcelona, I understand there is a lot of noise.”
Barcelona secured second place in La Liga before the 2023-24 season draws to a close at the Ramon Sánchez Pizjuan Stadium on Sunday.
(David Ramos/Getty Images)
