Xavi starts beautifully, but Sneijder finds the nomination strange
While Xavi begins his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Germany and then a 1-2 victory over Serbia, Wesley Sneijder, a legend of the Oranje, calls the appointment of the Spanish coach strange, believing it does not meet the criteria of the Dutch Federation.
Xavi's first steps at the helm of the Oranje
Appointed coach of the Netherlands in August, Xavi surprised the public by starting his tenure with two unbeaten matches. On Thursday, the Oranje drew 1-1 with Germany, and on Sunday they beat Serbia 1-2. Despite these results, he has not yet enjoyed full unanimity.
This start comes after a disappointing World Cup, with the Netherlands having been eliminated in the round of 16 by Morocco (1-1, 2-3 on penalties). The early exit has raised expectations around the new coach.
Xavi is tied to the Dutch national team until the end of the 2030 World Cup, succeeding Ronald Koeman, who has been in charge since 2023. His contract therefore provides for several years of work with the Oranje.
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Before this role, Xavi managed Al‑Sadd from 2019 to 2021, then FC Barcelona from 2021 to 2024. He won the La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Barça in 2023, as well as seven titles with Al‑Sadd. He thus becomes the first non‑Dutch coach at the helm of the Oranje since 1978.
Sneijder's criticisms and official reactions
Wesley Sneijder, former midfielder with 134 caps and 31 goals, said: “I find it a bit odd to have chosen a national coach who, in reality, did not meet the criteria set by the Dutch Federation itself.” He pointed out that Xavi obtained his A, B and Pro licences in four weeks, whereas the standard requires four and a half years of training.
National technical director Nigel de Jong admitted that Xavi was not the priority, the federation having initially considered Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot. For his part, Xavi stated: “I understand the questions about my nationality, but I have learned a lot from Dutch football. As a child, the Oranje represented beautiful football to me.”