He's home: Xavi is the new head coach of FC Barcelona

Spanish midfield legend Xavi Hernandez has been appointed head coach of his team FC Barcelona after a sensational swoop by the club to rope in their former captain at a time of crisis.

The club announced today his much-awaited homecoming and he will take over from interim coach Sergi Barjaun. He replaces Dutch manager Ronald Koeman, who was sacked two weeks ago for a poor start to the season and a departure from the club's traditional style of play.

Xavi, 41, has been coaching Qatari club Al Sadd since 2019. He joined the club as a player in 2015 after 17 trophy-laden years at his childhood club Barcelona.

He won seven trophies as Al Sadd manager and his team were unbeaten in 36 league games spanning two seasons.

After Koeman's exit, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said that the club had already begun speaking to Xavi several months ago, but that he was not the club's only choice for head coach.

But Al Sadd was intent on keeping the World Cup winner at the club as they did not want him to leave mid-season.

On November 3, a delegation from Barcelona travelled to Qatar to negotiate his release with Al Sadd, and the club eventually agreed to his move after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract.

Several players and managers—including his long-time midfield partner Andres Iniesta and his former coach Pep Guardiola—have in recent days weighed in on the developments and said that Xavi is ready to coach Barcelona.

A fan favourite in Catalonia, Xavi will be expected to bring about a revolution at the club to lift them from the current slump and reinstate the passing style that brought the club much success a decade ago.

The team currently sit ninth in the Spanish league table after 11 matches and had faced humiliating 3-0 defeats to Bayern Munich and Benfica in the Champions League.