Former Barcelona boss Xavi has been named head coach of the Netherlands on a four-year contract.
The 46-year-old ex-Barcelona and Spain midfielder becomes the first non-Dutch manager to lead the Oranje since Austrian Ernst Happel left in 1978.
Ronald Koeman resigned as Netherlands manager after a last-32 defeat by Morocco at this summer’s World Cup.
“I consider it a tremendous honour to become head coach of the Dutch national team,” Xavi said.
“As someone who received his training at Barca’s academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football.
“You could say that I am partly a son of Dutch football. Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barca, and Frank Rijkaard, also played an important role in shaping me as a player and coach.”
Xavi’s first game at the helm will be against Jurgen Klopp’s Germany on 24 September in the Nations League.
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said he held talks about the role but pulled out, preferring his next move to be in club football.
Xavi, a winner of three major international trophies, was part of the Spain side that beat the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final.
He retired in 2019, started his coaching career with Al-Sadd, and returned to Barcelona as manager in November 2021, winning La Liga in his first full season.
This is his first managerial role since leaving Barcelona in 2024.