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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 influence at Barcelona and later working alongside Guardiola. "He sees himself as a son of Dutch football," De Jong noted, adding that Xavi has repeated that sentiment more than once.
As for what style of play the federation hopes to see, De Jong summed it up as attractive, headstrong, and dominant football, adding that dominance doesn't always mean going forward. Sometimes, he said, being solid without the ball counts just as much.
Meetings, Staff, and What Comes Next
Before officially stepping into the role, Xavi spent time meeting with staff and federation officials. Clarence Seedorf, a member of the KNVB's board of commissioners, had also been part of the hiring process, taking part in lengthy interviews with Xavi at the Okura hotel in Amsterdam during the first weekend of August. The following day, Seedorf and De Jong met separately with Michael Reiziger.
Xavi arrived at the KNVB Campus in Zeist on Monday for a detailed introduction to the organization, followed by conversations with new staff members including Ruud van Nistelrooij, Adil Ramzi, and goalkeeping coach Patrick Lodewijks. More meetings with staff followed on Tuesday.
Regarding his coaching staff, De Jong confirmed Xavi wanted to bring in people he trusted from his time at Barcelona, and the federation worked with him to strike a balance between his own circle and existing KNVB staff.
When asked about being a foreign coach taking charge of a national team, Xavi didn't dodge the question. "I understand what I am and I understand this pressure, but I love this kind of pressure," he said, adding that his focus is entirely on the present and future, not on what happened before him.
On team selection, Xavi said he's already spoken with players and will announce his squad in three weeks. He insisted that age and reputation won't factor into his decisions, and he's open to giving younger players a chance if they're ready. He also brushed aside questions about limiting selections based on which country or league a player comes from. "I don't care about the leagues. I care about the players," he said.
Asked why Spain has produced more success in recent years, Xavi pointed to the structures Spanish football has built over time, and said he hopes to help the Netherlands develop something similar. "My first goal is to help the players, then enjoy the process, and we will be closer to winning," he said.
The Netherlands will play their next match, a Nations League fixture against Germany, on September 24.
