Xavi: In a way I am a child of Dutch football

Former Barcelona player and head coach Xavi has commented on his appointment as head coach of the Netherlands national team.

"I consider it a great honor to become the head coach of the Netherlands national team. Having developed at the Barcelona academy under the profound influence of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, I feel a special connection to Dutch football. You could say that, in a sense, I am a son of Dutch football.

Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard also played important roles in my development as both a player and a coach.

The Netherlands has a rich football culture and a clear vision: attacking football—ball possession combined with a creative approach, passion, and confidence. Of course, winning is the most important thing, but I prefer to achieve it by displaying those qualities and bringing joy to people. There is potential and a solid foundation for development here.

I look forward to starting the job," knvb.nl quotes Xavi as saying.

Xavi's contract runs until the end of the 2030 World Cup.

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