“I Find Xavi’s Appointment Strange,” Says Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder has questioned the decision to appoint Xavi Hernandez as head coach of the Netherlands national team, arguing that the Spaniard’s coaching qualifications do not match the standards expected by the Dutch football authorities.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport, the former Netherlands international said he was surprised that Xavi had been given the role despite not completing the coaching programme associated with the Royal Netherlands Football Association, known as the KNVB.
“I find it a little strange,” Sneijder said. He noted that Xavi had obtained his A, B and Pro coaching licences through the Spanish football federation in four weeks. While acknowledging that Xavi holds the relevant licences, Sneijder argued that they were not earned under the KNVB’s requirements.
Sneijder contrasted Xavi’s route with the Dutch federation’s approach to coach education. He said that coaches had previously been told they needed to complete a course lasting four and a half years, making the appointment of someone who had not followed that programme difficult to understand.
“I wish Xavi and the KNVB success, but I still find it strange,” Sneijder added.
His remarks have drawn attention partly because Sneijder himself left the KNVB’s coaching education programme in 2021. At the time, he had disagreements with the federation over the programme’s content.
Xavi has already taken charge of the Netherlands in two UEFA Nations League matches, collecting four points. The Dutch team are due to face Greece in Thessaloniki this evening.
The debate behind Sneijder’s criticism
Sneijder’s comments raise a broader question about how football federations assess coaching credentials. Licences are intended to demonstrate that a coach has studied essential areas such as tactics, player development and team management. But the route to those qualifications can differ from one country to another.
That difference does not automatically mean that a coach is unprepared. A licence earned through one national federation may cover many of the same fundamentals as a qualification obtained elsewhere. At the same time, federations can set their own training standards and expect candidates to meet them.
For a national team, the appointment process also involves considerations beyond formal education. A coach’s experience, communication skills, understanding of the squad and ability to prepare a team for high-pressure matches may all influence a decision. The significance of those qualities, however, does not remove the question of whether the federation’s stated qualification rules are being applied consistently.
Sneijder’s own experience adds another dimension to the discussion. Having left the Dutch coaching programme after a disagreement over its content, he is familiar with the system he is criticising. That background may help explain why he is focused not only on Xavi’s licences but also on the contrast between the KNVB’s expectations and the appointment it has made.
For the Netherlands, the immediate test will be the team’s performances under its new coach. Four points from the first two Nations League fixtures provide an initial return, but they do not settle the debate over Xavi’s qualifications or the process behind his appointment.
The match against Greece offers another opportunity for Xavi to establish his approach and build momentum with the squad. Over time, results, the team’s organisation and the players’ response to his methods are likely to shape public judgement of the decision. Sneijder’s criticism, meanwhile, has put the KNVB’s coaching standards firmly in the spotlight.