Xavi Hernandez reportedly interested in Ivory Coast coaching job

Former Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has reportedly expressed interested in the Ivory Coast coaching job as he considers his next managerial challenge.

The 45-year-old has been without a coaching role since leaving Barcelona in 2024 after a three-year spell in charge of the Catalan giants. Before returning to Camp Nou, Xavi gained managerial experience with Qatari side Al-Sadd, where he won domestic trophies and developed his coaching philosophy.

According to reports, the Spanish tactician has a strong interest in taking charge of the Elephants and sees the national team role as an attractive opportunity to continue his coaching career.

Xavi is said to be closely monitoring developments around the Ivory Coast job and is believed to have a preference for the project being built around the three-time African champions.

The former Al Sadd tactician’s admiration for Ivory Coast was one of the reasons he opted not to submit an application for the vacant Senegal coaching position following Pape Thiaw’s exit.

Xavi’s reported interest comes at a time when the future of current Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé remains uncertain.

Despite being under contract, Fae is reportedly considering parting ways with the West African giants by the end of 2026, potentially opening the door for a new coach to take charge of the Elephants.

Faé has enjoyed significant success with Ivory Coast, guiding the team to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2024 after taking over during the tournament. His achievements have earned him widespread recognition, but discussions over the long-term direction of the national team have continued.

Meanwhile, Xavi has previously expressed his ambition to manage a national team, revealing that he would be open to taking charge of a country either in Africa or another part of the world.

During his time at Barcelona, he helped guide the club to the La Liga title in the 2022/23 season and focused on rebuilding the squad by promoting young talents while maintaining the club’s traditional possession-based style.

A move to Africa would represent a new challenge for Xavi, who has spent the majority of his playing and coaching career in Europe and Qatar. However, his previous experience in the Middle East and his knowledge of international football could make him an attractive option for national teams seeking a high-profile coach.

The Ivory Coast job would present an opportunity for Xavi to work with a talented squad featuring several players competing at top European clubs, while also attempting to maintain the country’s status as one of Africa’s leading football nations.

Although no official approach has been confirmed and the Ivory Coast Football Federation has not commented on the reports, Xavi’s reported admiration for the Elephants adds another layer of intrigue to the future of the national team’s technical leadership.