Former Bayern Munich boss, Hansi Flick, is the favourite to takeover the Barcelona job following the sacking of manager Xavi weeks after he announced he would be staying at the club.

Xavi had initially decided to leave at the end of the current season.

“Today Friday, FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has informed Xavi Hernández that he will not be continuing as first team coach in the 2024-25 season,” the club said in a statement on Friday.

This statement comes exactly one month after Barcelona announced that the 44-year-old club legend whose contract with the Catalans runs until 2025, will continue at the club next season after he had said he would leave at the end of the season.

However, the hierarchy of the club has backtracked from the plan and decided to fire Xavi following a meeting at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Friday with sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste, director of sport Anderson Luís de Souza, Deco, Xavi, Òscar Hernández and Sergio Alegre in attendance.

“The meeting happened at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and was also attended by sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste, director of sport Anderson Luís de Souza, Deco, Xavi, Òscar Hernández and Sergio Alegre,” the statement said.

German coach Flick is expected to replace Xavi and prepare Barcelona ahead of the 2024/25 season. He has been out of job since he was sacked as the manager of the German national team in 2023.

“It is never easy to leave the club of your life, but I am very proud after two and a half years at the head of a dressing room that has been like a second family,” said Xavi in an open letter issued on social media. “From Sunday I will be just one more Barca fan in the stands,” he added.

“Because before being a player or a coach I am a Barcelona fan and I only want the best for the club in my life, which will always have me at its disposal.”