Xavi Hernandez, the legendary player from Barcelona Football Club, has surprisingly emerged as a front runner for a top Premier League job according to reports from Sun Football.
The former midfield genius recently left his position as Barcelona coach but seems to be pursued by several European clubs impressed with his beliefs in tactical philosophy and player development.
Although there isn’t yet a confirmed next step for Xavi after Barcelona, sources speculate that he is ready for a different challenge outside of Spain.
His emphasis on possession-based, attacking football, which he honed under Pep Guardiola and developed while manager for Barcelona, makes him a desirable candidate for clubs trying to implement forward-thinking football.
According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur are considering Xavi as a target if Ange Postecoglou leaves this summer.
The hierarchy at Tottenham have a respect for Xavi not only for his ability to develop talent but also to play entertaining football – both factors fall in line with their long-term vision.
The 44-year-old during his time as Barcelona head coach certainly proved to be adaptable in times of institutional instability while securing a La Liga title and developing star players such as Gavi and Pedri.
Tottenham’s interest is potentially based on Xavi’s plan for implementing positional play in difficult contexts.
The application of overlapping full-backs, positional rotation in midfield, and high press with intensity match the relevant aspects of Spurs’ current squad, with creative technicians like James Maddison and Destiny Udogie.
However, it is likely that Tottenham will not be the only club interested in Xavi, as teams in the Bundesliga have been linked to him already.
Xavi’s preference for projects with strong youth management systems makes Tottenham an appealing opportunity; however, the amount of backing they can promise him in the transfer market may be a crucial factor.
Given Postecoglou’s uncertain future, Tottenham’s search has seemingly thrown a wide net, and now with the addition of Xavi’s availability, a surprise twist has appeared in the managerial marketplace.
Xavi’s appointment would be a bold new direction for the club in North London to take, integrating Barcelona’s philosophy of play with the intensity of the Premier League.
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