Xavi announces Netherlands technical staff as Van Nistelrooy stays on

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/xavi/bs5KnIiT/"]Xavi[/a] was appointed as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] manager on August 12th, more than a month after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koeman-ronald/vHeYAvb2/"]Ronald Koeman[/a] resigned following [i]Oranje[/i]'s early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Netherlands were beaten on penalties by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] in the round of 32.[/p][p]The surprise hire came amid rumours that Xavi would be joined by former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]FC Barcelona[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a] striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kluivert-patrick/KdsGSWEr/"]Patrick Kluivert[/a], who would serve as the Spaniard's assistant.[/p][p]Xavi has not included Kluivert in his coaching staff, as was announced on Saturday. The former Barcelona great has hired his brother, Oscar Hernandez, and Sergio Alegre as his assistants, both of whom worked with Xavi during his spells at the Catalan giants and Qatari side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/al-sadd/AkENgqwB/"]Al Sadd[/a]. Ivan Torres, also part of Xavi's faithful backroom staff, has been hired as the performance coach.[/p][embed guid="4332efe7-2d84-44b3-bdb7-7a4dfdc6549a" url="https://x.com/OnsOranje/status/2091171943835738222?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I believe it is important to be surrounded by people with different qualities, backgrounds and perspectives that complement one another. I have been working with Sergio, Óscar and Iván for a long time, and they know my way of working well,"[/b] said Xavi, who also hired several Dutch coaches.[/p][p]Former striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-nistelrooy-ruud/4fYy95jc/"]Ruud van Nistelrooy[/a], who joined the Netherlands' coaching staff under Koeman, remains with the first team under Xavi, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lodewijks-patrick/KECzlCP1/"]Patrick Lodewijks[/a] stays on as goalkeepers' coach. Former Netherlands youth coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ramzi-adil/21UPY70R/"]Adil Ramzi[/a] has joined Xavi's team as fourth assistant coach.[/p][p][b]"At the same time, I place great value on the Dutch input we receive from Ruud, Adil and Patrick,"[/b] Xavi continued on the KNVB's website.[/p][image alt="Ruud van Nistelrooy (R) as Ronald Koeman's assistant during the 2026 FIFA World Cup" id="d02ee85f-e10f-43cb-9da0-424e4a3f670a" credit-line="Photo by MICHAEL STEELE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP" guid="203f3492-b43b-4452-851e-6c4134448ba3" original-width="4200" original-height="2800" /][p][b]"Everyone has their own role and area of expertise. Whether it’s attacking, defending, set-pieces or other aspects of football: we want to support the players as effectively as possible in every area."[/b][/p][p]Xavi will officially be presented on Tuesday, August 25th, with a press conference at the KNVB headquarters in Zeist. The Spaniard's first official match as Netherlands manager will be on September 24th, when they'll face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] in the UEFA Nations League.[/p]