Report: Xavi Eyes Qatar National Team Coaching Role

After departing from his role as head coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández has been enjoying a break in Catalonia with his family. However, whispers in the football world suggest the former midfielder could soon return to coaching, potentially taking the helm of the Qatar national team.

According to local reports from the Qatari newspaper Al Raya, Xavi is currently in Qatar negotiating with the Qatar Football Association about a possible coaching deal. The Spanish football icon is no stranger to the region, having played and coached at Al Sadd, where he won seven domestic titles between 2019 and 2021. He left Qatar in 2021 to rejoin Barcelona, but his Middle Eastern ties might soon come in handy once again.

The potential coaching change comes as Qatar struggles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Under the management of fellow Catalan Tintin Marquez, the national team has only managed to secure four points from the last four matches, leaving them in a precarious fourth position in their qualifying group. Marquez, who led Qatar to retain their AFC Asian Cup title on home soil in 2023, is now facing mounting pressure to turn the team’s performance around. Should Marquez exit, Xavi is seen as the frontrunner to take over.

The former Barcelona star had previously stated he was taking a year-long sabbatical with no plans to coach anytime soon. But with recent developments, it seems that his time off might be cut short for an opportunity to return to the sidelines—this time for the Qatar national team.

A return to Qatar would see Xavi revisit a familiar environment, as he had spent six years in the country following his initial departure from Barcelona in 2015. His coaching stint at Al Sadd solidified his reputation in Qatar, making him a top choice for the national team's head coach position.

Will Xavi bring his expertise back to Qatar and help the nation regain its form in international football? Stay tuned for the latest updates as the story unfolds.

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