Chelsea add former Barcelona boss Xavi to list of managerial candidates
Chelsea add former Barcelona boss Xavi to list of managerial candidates Stamford Bridge is once again a site of transition as Chelsea seek a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, whose brief tenure ended after a string of disappointing results. Calum McFarlane has been handed the reins for the remainder of the current season as the Blues continue their search for a new manager. Among the high-profile names emerging in the recruitment process, former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has become a candidate to lead the West London club into its next era .
Since BlueCo consortium’s takeover, the Blues have prioritised a possession-based, high-energy coaching philosophy. Xavi, a disciple of the “Tiki-Taka” approach, fits this mould perfectly. At Barcelona, he led the team to a La Liga title in 2022/23 and a Supercopa de Espana.
Chelsea’s managerial carousel has seen Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior depart in quick succession during the 2025/26 campaign. The club currently finds itself adrift of the Champions League places and in desperate need of a long-term project leader. Xavi, who has been on hiatus since leaving Catalonia in 2024, is keen for a challenge in the Premier League.
“There’s no hurry for me, but I’d like a good project,” Xavi told The Athletic . “Like, ‘You have four years to work and make a project. ’ I’d love to work in the Premier League because I love the passion there.
“In Spain, it’s too much about the result. ” Xavi is one of several coaches in contention for the Chelsea job, with fellow Spaniards Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas , and Andoni Iraola also believed to be options, alongside Marco Silva. Chelsea cannot afford to get their next managerial appointment if they are to retain their status as one of English football’s leading sides.