The appointment comes after growing criticism that the team leaned too heavily on defensive tactics, a factor many believe played a role in their World Cup exit following a defeat to Morocco. Xavi addressed this directly, saying his Netherlands side would move away from a five-man defense and instead favor formations like 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1, which he believes will allow the team to control matches more effectively.

How the Decision Was Made
Nigel de Jong, the federation's director of top football, walked reporters through the process that led to Xavi's hiring.

He explained that after the World Cup review, the federation drew up a shortlist of four candidates, with Pep Guardiola topping that list and Xavi coming in third. When a journalist brought up his position on the list, Xavi shrugged it off. "I don't care if I was the third choice," he said.

"It's an honor to be here."

De Jong described several rounds of discussions with Xavi, some held at his home and others in the Netherlands, focused on his footballing philosophy and whether his approach would suit the national team. "Those were good conversations, and we came to the conclusion that we had to take the next step with him," De Jong said.



He also pointed to something he considered especially meaningful: Xavi's deep connection to Dutch football principles, shaped by his years under Johan Cruyff's influe.