Xavi Hernández has officially been appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands national football team, according to reports from De Telegraaf, bringing a swift conclusion to a search conducted by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). The announcement drew immediate reactions from Oranje players, including midfielder Xavi Simons and defender Ian Maatsen, who addressed the high-profile appointment on social media.
Xavi Simons Welcomes New Coach With Childhood Photo
Xavi Simons took to social media to welcome Xavi Hernández to the Dutch setup, sharing a childhood photograph of himself posing alongside Barcelona players during the Spanish manager’s tenure as team captain. According to reporting by De Telegraaf, the Spanish midfielder’s name served as the direct inspiration for the Dutch international’s own first name.
Simons spent a significant portion of his formative years within Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, playing in the youth ranks from 2010 until 2019. He later departed for Paris Saint-Germain at age 16 without making a senior appearance for the Catalan club. The 23-year-old Tottenham player missed the previous World Cup tournament due to a severe knee injury sustained in April.
Tactical Mandate and the Return of the Dutch School
The KNVB’s choice of Xavi Hernández centers heavily on a specific sporting objective: restoring the traditional attacking identity of the Netherlands national team, commonly referred to as the “Hollandse School,” as detailed by the broadcasting organization NOS. Following a strenuous recruitment phase described by NU.nl as a complicated search that ultimately yielded a positive resolution, the governing association handed the former Barcelona player and manager the keys to the senior squad.
Spanish media outlets, including AD.nl, noted that taking over the Oranje represents a major milestone for the Spanish coach, who is actively pursuing one of his most significant career ambitions following his departure from Camp Nou.
Player Reactions and Squad Implications
Alongside Simons, defender Ian Maatsen also voiced his reaction to the historic appointment, adding to a wave of digital responses from current members of the player pool.
Worth a look
