Xavi Simons has paid tribute to Xavi Hernández after the Dutch Football Association appointed the former Barcelona midfielder as the Netherlands’ new head coach.
The Dutch international welcomed his new coach on social media with a symbolic message: “The name that inspired me. Welcome to the Netherlands, coach Xavi Hernández.” Their shared first name has often linked the two men, but they will now share the same national team, with Xavi Hernández on the bench and Simons on the pitch.
Xavi Hernández will succeed Ronald Koeman, who left after the Netherlands’ elimination from the 2026 World Cup against Morocco. The 46-year-old Spaniard has signed a contract through the 2030 World Cup and will become the first foreign coach to lead the Netherlands since Ernst Happel in 1978. His appointment therefore opens a new chapter for the Oranje, with Simons among the players expected to play an important role under the new coach.
