Former Mexico international Rafa Márquez has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Xavi as Barcelona head coach, according to multiple reports.
Xavi announced in January that he will step down at the end of the current campaign, which looks likely to end trophy-less after a stunning Champions League elimination at the hands of PSG on Tuesday.
Márquez is waiting in the wings as the coach of Barcelona’s reserve side Barça Atlètic, which is currently fighting for promotion to the second division. The 45-year-old spent seven seasons as a player with the Blaugrana between 2003 and 2010.
After amassing 148 caps with Mexico and playing in five World Cups, Márquez retired in 2018.
According to various reports, Márquez has become the leading contender for a number of reasons.
Sport, which called Márquez “the chosen one” in its report, said that Barça president Joan Laporta remembers the success Barcelona has experienced in the recent past with two other former reserve team managers, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique (who ironically knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League this year with PSG).
Additionally, the club likes the work Márquez has done with Barcelona’s B team, and also believes his time spent with the club as a player gives him an advantage over other candidates.
Other factors in Márquez’s favor are slightly more practical.
RAC1 journalist Jordi Basté reported that Márquez, who has never served as a senior head coach, would be cheaper than other alternatives and could give Barça more money to spent on players.
ESPN reported that Laporta is only really a fan of two candidates, Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, who are both considered to be unobtainable.
Other names in the mix include Roberto de Zerbi, Hansi Flick and Thomas Tuchel.
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