Xavi starts Netherlands revolution with 2030 World Cup project

Xavi Hernandez has begun his new role as Netherlands manager by assembling a coaching team that combines trusted former colleagues with significant Dutch football experience.

The former Barcelona manager took over from Ronald Koeman after the Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup. His appointment marks the start of a project intended to run through to the 2030 World Cup.

Xavi, who had been out of management for two years, has now arrived at the headquarters of the Royal Dutch Football Association and started preparations for his first matches in charge of the “Oranje”.

His opening game will be against Germany on 24 September, followed by meetings with Serbia and Greece during the same international break.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Xavi is shaping his backroom staff around his own ideas while also drawing on coaches with a strong understanding of the Dutch game.

Sergio Alegre and Oscar Hernandez, two of his former assistants, are working alongside him. Ivan Torres has also remained part of the set-up as fitness coach, having previously worked with Xavi at Barcelona, in Qatar and at Leeds United.

The new manager has also chosen to retain Ruud van Nistelrooy, ensuring that the staff includes a figure with extensive experience of Dutch football. Adil Ramzi has been promoted from the Netherlands Under-19 side to work with the senior team, while Patrick Lodewijks has joined as goalkeeping coach.

The composition of the staff reflects Xavi’s intention to blend his own coaching principles with local knowledge. It also fits with a philosophy in which he has stressed the importance of having people with “different qualities, experiences and perspectives” who complement one another.

Xavi’s appointment comes at a delicate moment for the Netherlands, who are attempting to recover from the disappointment of their early World Cup exit.

The defeat by Morocco was more than the end of their campaign. It led to Koeman’s departure and prompted the Dutch football authorities to look for a fresh direction before selecting Xavi to lead the next phase.

The Spaniard has clear links with the Dutch football school and believes those influences can help him settle quickly in his new environment. He has spoken about his particular connection with Dutch football and the impact of figures including Johan Cruyff, Rinus Michels, Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard.

There has already been a positive response within the Netherlands dressing room. Xavi Simons was among those to welcome the new manager and sent him a message, underlining the enthusiasm surrounding the beginning of the new era.

However, that goodwill will quickly be tested. Xavi faces a demanding first match against Germany before games against Serbia and Greece, with the early results likely to offer an indication of whether he can guide the Netherlands back towards a more stable path.

His task is therefore to reshape both the team and the structure around it after the end of the Koeman era. Xavi’s project begins in the aftermath of the Morocco defeat, with the Netherlands hoping that a painful World Cup exit can become the starting point for a different future under their new manager.