Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Xavi Named Netherlands Head Coach, First Foreign Boss Since 1978
Xavi Hernandez is a famous soccer player from Spain who played for a big team called Barcelona and won many trophies.
Now he has a new job: he will coach the Netherlands national soccer team, telling the Dutch players how to play.
The Netherlands team is nicknamed the Oranje, which means 'orange' in Dutch.
Xavi is the first coach from another country to lead the Dutch team since 1978.
He signed a contract for four years and will try to win the Euro 2028 and 2030 World Cup tournaments.
His first game will be against Germany on September 24.
Xavi likes attacking soccer with lots of creativity and says he feels a special connection to Dutch football.
He was trained with big influences from Dutch coaches like Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels.
The Netherlands have never won the World Cup, even though they reached the final three times, so fans hope Xavi can finally help them win it.
Xavi Hernandez has been appointed head coach of the Netherlands national team on a four-year deal, succeeding Ronald Koeman.
He becomes the Netherlands' first foreign head coach since Ernst Happel led the team to the 1978 World Cup final.
Xavi will lead the Oranje through the Euro 2028 and 2030 World Cup campaigns.
His first match in charge will be a Nations League clash with Germany at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam on September 24.
The former Barcelona midfielder has been out of coaching since leaving the club in 2024, where he had won the 2023 La Liga title.
- Who
- Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona midfielder and 2010 World Cup winner with Spain, appointed by the Dutch football association.
- What
- Named head coach of the Netherlands national team, becoming their first foreign boss since 1978 and replacing Ronald Koeman.
- When
- Announced on Wednesday; his first match is a Nations League clash with Germany on September 24.
- Where
- Netherlands; the announcement was made from Paris, and his first match takes place at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
- Why
- He succeeds Ronald Koeman, who stepped down after the Dutch were eliminated in the World Cup last 32 on penalties against Morocco.
- New head coach
- Xavi Hernandez
- Team
- Netherlands national team (Oranje)
- Contract length
- 4 years
- Predecessor
- Ronald Koeman
- First foreign boss since
- Ernst Happel (1978)
- First match
- Nations League vs Germany, September 24, Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam
- Previous club job
- FC Barcelona, left in 2024
- Age
- 46