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Manchester United fans had a familiar feeling on Monday morning that they have had to get used to in the 12 years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
End of another era
Many could see tensions rising as an irate Ruben Amorim spoke to the press before and after his side’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
Somewhat surprisingly, it was announced on Monday morning that the Portuguese would leave the club with immediate effect after just fourteen months in charge. Darren Fletcher will take temporary charge of the team, with United most likely waiting until the match summer to appoint a new permanent head coach.
There are a plethora of names linked to the feature, with many more likely to follow in the coming months.
Xavi Hernández
One manager who has been regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford is former FC Barcelona player and boss Xavi.
At first glance, there are plenty of positives in the Catalan’s favour.
He is a big name in football history and is considered by many to be one of the best midfielders in the history of football. As a result, he immediately demanded respect from the locker room, full of players who probably idolized him as young players.
He also did a decent job at FC Barcelona, where he took the reins when the club was struggling with major financial problems and the loss of Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite these challenging circumstances, he nevertheless managed to win the La Liga title and the Super Cup during his tenure.
The 45-year-old would also be very well qualified to assess the current state of the United midfield and could be the first manager in a very long time to help deliver the extensive operation needed in this part of the team. Despite all this, United should avoid the mistakes of the past and not hire Xavi, at least not now.
Premier League experience
There is no league like the Premier League. Nowhere in the football world are teams challenged as often and having to fight for every point as often as in England.
The physical nature of football is also something that takes foreign players and coaches by surprise, and they often take a while to adapt, if they can at all. The one thing United have rarely done in their recent management searches is prioritize a manager with recent Premier League success.
Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim both had success outside England, but in the Dutch and Portuguese leagues. They were unable to transfer their performances to the Premier League, and United were once again left with an error of judgement.
Xavi has never experienced anything outside Spain or Qatar as a player or manager. He would certainly need a lot of time to adapt and learn the nuances of English football, and that is something United cannot afford at the moment.
Most fans would probably agree that United need to hire a manager with significant, relevant experience of winning in the Premier League, and Xavi is clearly falling short of expectations in this regard.
Lack of experience
It is not even the lack of experience in England, but in general management, that should be against the Spaniard.
He played 102 games for Al Sadd and 142 games for FC Barcelona. He has an impressive winning record of 66% in Qatar and 63% in Spain, but he has been out of work since May 2024.
Moreover, although he handled the pressure from Barcelona, he ultimately failed as a manager, being fired by the club.
Playing style clashes
In fact, even if Xavi could adapt to the league, there are doubts as to whether United fans would want the style of football he employs.
The former midfielder was a passing master and architect of Barcelona’s tiki-taka style in the early 2010s. Although his teams are not as wedded to this concept as he was as a player, they still employ slow build-up and possession-based football.
This is not really in keeping with the fast, attacking football that United fans traditionally enjoy watching. Louis van Gaal tried to implement a more patient, possession-based style of football and it’s safe to say not many fans long for those days anymore.
Final thoughts
Although Xavi is a big name in football and would command immediate respect and awe in the dressing room, his potential appointment would be a repeat of past mistakes.
His lack of Premier League experience and style of football are not the gamble United need at the moment as they need to sort out their next date.
Xavi management record
| Club | Competitions | wins | Pulls | To lose | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Sadd | 102 | 67 | 17 | 18 | 66 |
| FC Barcelona | 142 | 89 | 24 | 29 | 63 |
Source: Wikipedia
Featured image Fran Santiago via Getty Images
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