‘I’m honoured that Hassan al-Thawadi
thinks that I can be the coach of Qatar’

Ever since Xavi Hernandez arrived in Qatar from Barcelona, he has endeared himself to the football-loving public of the country like no foreign star has previously had.
The Spanish legend has had everyone awestricken with his affable off-field personality and his astonishing footballing skills as Al Sadd’s captain.
In his two seasons in Qatar, he has hardly ever put a foot wrong, going about his business at Al Sadd in the manner expected of a through professional without getting embroiled in any verbal duels on the pitch or off it.
Always respectful towards everybody, he is the perfect antithesis of the brash and often arrogant modern-day superstar people are more accustomed to these days.
No wonder then that he has also made a mark for himself as an ambassador for Generation Amazing, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s (SC) flagship CSR programme, working with refugees and migrant workers and inspiring them through football.
Such has been his impact in Qatar that even SC’s Secretary-General Hassan al-Thawadi has said that left to him he wouldn’t hesitate to appoint Xavi as coach of the national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar.
Xavi has also hinted recently that he would be proud to coach Qatar, and al-Thawadi’s praise for him on Monday, perhaps, is an indication that could well be the case after he completes the formality of getting his coaching licenses.
“I’m honoured that Hassan al-Thawadi thinks that I can be the coach of Qatar. Yes, I would like to be a coach but I’m using this time to get my coaching licenses. I want to start coaching and yes, it could be one of the options that I coach Qatar,” the 37-year-old Xavi, who has won 28 titles told reporters in Doha yesterday.
“It is an exciting project and I am very grateful to the country. I would like to help in any way for them to be competitive at the World Cup.”
 Xavi has already said he would retire at the end of this season and could well earn his coaching spurs in Asia before moving on to bigger teams in Europe, possibly even his previous club Barcelona.
“Why not? It could be in Qatar or another place in Asia. I would like to start here in Doha and maybe later in the national team but what is clear is that I would like to coach and be on the field,” he said.
Xavi feels his style is similar to that of current Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola – who also played for Qatar’s Al Ahli between 2003 and 2005 after leaving Barcelona – and also the late Luis Aragones who coached Spain, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
“Luis Aragones and Pep Guardiola were probably the best coaches I have had. Also, I have worked under Frank Rijkaard, Louis Van Gaal, Luis Enrique and have learnt from all of them. I have enjoyed very much working under them.
“I have had the chance to be with the best coaches in the world. Aragones and Guardiola had a style of football which was attack-minded with possession. Guardiola is now one of the best coaches in the world.”
In earlier interviews, Xavi had pointed out that the ‘tiki-taka’ philosophy of play which he has come to embody is also being taken up in Qatar.
“There are many teams here in Qatar who have taken on the philosophy of Barcelona and the Spanish national team, or even now like the German team, they like to play an attacking style of football with domination of possession. A lot of coaches here are working in this style now. There are different styles in the league here but the coaches are well prepared, and the Qatar Stars League will continue improving,” he said.
 “I have seen a country with a total focus on construction, not only the stadiums but also the infrastructure. They are building a new metro system to make sure the traffic is not so dense. They are preparing very well on all these fronts, and they have time to solve any challenges they face. Qatar can host a fantastic and historic World Cup for football.”
Xavi has also not hesitated to defend Qatar against its opponents who have been out to malign the country with unsubstantiated allegations of foul play during the World Cup bidding process.
“My message is that people should come and see the country. People talk about Qatar without having been here. They have to come here and share time with the people, get to know the people – they are good people who put a lot of emphasis on sports. I have gotten to know people who decide things in Qatar and they are very noble, so I would say to the people who talk badly about Qatar to come here and see it.”
So is the Xavi-Qatar partnership a done deal now? Fans would be hoping it surely is.

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