Xavi Hernández takes over as Netherlands coach, brings total football back to its birthplace

There's something fitting about the story that begins this week in Zeist. The total football the Dutch invented back in the 1970s is returning to the Netherlands courtesy of a Spaniard who grew up idolizing that very idea. Xavi Hernández was unveiled as the new coach of the Netherlands national team, and his opening remarks sounded less like a routine press conference and more like a manifesto.

That's no accident. Xavi came through Barcelona's academy under the long shadow of Johan Cruyff, and it was a Dutch coach, Louis van Gaal, who gave him his first-team debut at the club. Now, thirty years later, the circle closes: the student returns to teach the original school its own lessons.

"We want to dominate the game, take the initiative with the ball," Xavi said at his presentation. He went further: "At the same time, our goal is to show the whole world a team with passion, with desire and ambition." Words that sound straight out of Cruyff, even coming from someone born in Terrassa.

Third on the list, and fine with it

The appointment didn't come because he was the first choice. The Dutch federation's technical director, Nigel de Jong, confirmed that Xavi had been part of a shortlist of four candidates, after both Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot (recently fired by Liverpool) turned down the job. Michael Reiziger, who currently oversees the Dutch youth setup, was also mentioned as an option.

Far from bothered about finishing behind those two names, Xavi took it in stride.

Well, it's not a bad spot to be in, behind Guardiola and Slot. Third place. At least we're on the podium. I don't mind.Xavi Hernández

The challenge could hardly start tougher: on September 24 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands will host Germany, who also arrive with a new man in charge, Jürgen Klopp, who took over after Julian Nagelsmann's exit following another disappointing World Cup for the Germans.

Xavi, 46, had been out of work since leaving the Barcelona bench in May 2024. He arrives to replace Ronald Koeman, who departed after the Netherlands' round-of-16 exit at the last World Cup, on penalties against Morocco.

The resume he brings with him is striking: with Xavi running the midfield, Barcelona won 25 trophies, including four Champions Leagues and eight Spanish league titles. He was also a key figure in the Spain generation that won the 2010 World Cup (fittingly against the Netherlands, in the Johannesburg final) along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. Numbers that stand in sharp contrast to the story of a Clockwork Orange side that reached three World Cup finals and lost them all.

I feel excited, I feel motivated because, you know, we're going to play against Germany, one of the best teams in Europe, and against one of the best coaches of recent years, Jürgen Klopp. So yes, it's a big challenge from the very start, but I think we'll be ready.Xavi Hernández

Looking ahead, Xavi was clear about his approach: "We'll try to change a few things. Good habits, new energy. We'll work with passion, with ambition and with desire so that the people in the Netherlands, all 18 million of them, feel proud of our team."