Born in Terrassa on 25 January 1980, Xavi Hernández became first team manager in November 2021. Thus began his second spell at FC Barcelona. His first era at the club was a huge success and lasted 24 years; he started as an U12 and progressed all the way up to the first team. He then left Barça for Al Sadd in Qatar and with that experienced learned, he is coming back home.

It all started in 1991/92. He tried different positions before settling for midfield, where he’d gain a place of honour in FC Barcelona history. Since making his first team debut in 1998 under coach Louis van Gaal, Xavi was a regular starter for 17 seasons, always performing brilliantly and helping the side to 25 titles.

After displaying such a footballing brain in the middle of the park, with the ball almost sewn to his foot, the Barça captain departed for Doha. After playing for Al Sadd, he then became the coach and in two and half season he led the team to success and further success – seven trophies in all.

Aside from the material success in the form of silverware, more importantly, he was able to deploy the famous Barça system in the midst of Qatari football. It was all about building up plays from the back, putting together combinations of passes and placing the perfect through balls to the forwards. And whenever the team lost the ball, immediately smothering them to get it back as quickly as possible. He managed to convey all of his Barça DNA to those players, and now looks forward to doing the same as it his beloved lifetime club, FC Barcelona.