Xavi appointed as Al Sadd coach

Qatari club Al Sadd has named former Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez as their new manager, via a statement.

The 39-year-old ex-Spain international brought his illustrious playing career to a close this month with the Qatari club after making over 767 appearances for La Liga Champions and 133 for La Roja in his illustrious playing career before moving to the middle east in 2015 ahead of his transition into coaching.

Al Sadd said on Twitter Xavi would replace Jesualdo Ferreira as a manager at the start of next season after Portuguese coach, who left Doha based side to a 14th league title.

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Xavi told EFE press agency, as cited by Marca: “My idea is to start managing here in Qatar to gain experience.

“This will set me up to return to European football and yes, hopefully, it will be Barcelona, but right now I am not in that position.

“I am not ready to take this sort of role at top level and I need to be able to take small steps before reaching my ultimate goal.

“I have many ideas and concepts of how I want football to be played and how I would like to pass that on to future players.

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“I have always been a massive admirer of how Barcelona play, their control of the game and their style – it is something I want to reflect in my own career as Coach.”

Xavi will make Al Sadd first appearances as a coach in the pre-season training camp in Girona from July 14-29 after having made 115 appearances for the club where he hang his boot.