Former Mexico defender Rafa Márquez favourite to replace Xavi Hernández as Barcelona coach

If Xavi Hernández were to leave his post as head coach of Barcelona, the favourite to take over from him will be Rafael Márquez, with club president Joan Laporta revealing his affection, respect and admiration for the former Mexico defender, who is currently in charge of reserve team Barcelona Atlètic.

Laporta “delighted” with Márquez

According to Spanish radio station Cadena COPE, “Laporta is delighted with the work Rafa Márquez is doing and has made it very clear that, if at any time Xavi decided to follow another path, the Mexican coach would be the man chosen as his replacement. He has no doubt about that.”

In July 2022, Márquez signed a two-year contract to coach Barça Atlètic, who play in Primera Federación, the third tier of the Spanish league system. His first steps into coaching had come the previous year with the youth team of RSD Alcalá, a lower-league club based near Madrid.

In his first season in charge of his current team, they finished fourth in a league of 20 but were knocked out in the semi-finals of the promotion playoffs by Real Madrid Castilla.

Márquez to be named permanent Barça coach

Laporta also stated the 44-year-old would be named permanent - rather than interim - first-team coach were Xavi to leave, which would make him the first Mexican to coach one of world soccer’s very biggest clubs.

Xavi has started to come under some pressure as a result of the team’s current form, which has led to him criticising his players after a number of recent matches, including the friendly defeat to Club América in Dallas. Barça have won only one of their last four competitive games and have fallen seven points behind Real Madrid and Girona at the top of LaLiga.