Real Betis considering Xavi Hernandez as their coach for next season
Setien will not remain in charge and Betis are looking for a replacement
Xavi Hernandez's first step into coaching could be at Real Betis. The Seville club are thinking about appointing the former Barcelona midfielder next season when he hangs up his boots.
As revealed by SPORT, Xavi has already began his UEFA badges and will have everything in place, to there would be no problem if they did decide to move for him.
Betis will part ways with Quique Setien in the summer but they won't give up on their bet for playing one-touch football when possible. Setien's days are up but the philosophy, they hope, will live on. At the club there are thoughts that Xavi could be the perfect man to practice attacking and attractive football and bring good results.
After confirming his imminent retirement from football, everything suggests Xavi will begin his coaching career at the club where he will retire, Al-Sadd in Qatar, away from the media attention. But Betis have the players to attract him and to play his style of football.
One of their players knows him very well, the Catalan Marc Bartra. The defender posted on Instagram referring to Xavi after this week's announcement.
"I will never forget those words you would say to me now and again in the tunnel before a game: 'Marc, give me [the ball] everytime you can and if I have a man on me, give it to me anyway.'" Bartra wrote. "One of my idols hangs up their boots and I had the honour of sharing a lot with him during five years."
Who knows, maybe next year Bartra will be under Xavi's orders.
No one doubts that Xavi will be a great coach thanks to his knowledge of the game and leadership skills.
