Barcelona legend Xavi takes first steps into management as he becomes new Al Sadd boss

XAVI has taken his first steps into management after taking the reins at Qatari side Al Sadd on a two-year deal  The 39-year-old recently called time on his playing career after spending the last four seasons at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium where he featured in almost 120 games  Releasing a statement on Instagram, the Barcelona legend said: "I'm very excited about this new stage in my career that I'm officially starting today as coach at Al Sadd  "After finishing my unforgettable career as a player, I am starting this new challenge with lots of enthusiasm and conscious of the responsibility to return the trust the club has given me with hard work and commitment!"  Commenting on what his style of play would be, he told AS: "My philosophy as a coach reflects the style we developed for many years under the influence of Johan Cruyff and La Masia  "And that has its greatest exponent in the way of playing football in Barcelona  "I love seeing teams take the initiative on the field, attack football and return to the essence of what we all love from our childhood days - possession football "  Xavi is now preparing to return to Catalonia as he takes his side to Girona for a pre-season training camp in July as he looks to guide Al Sadd to back-to-back league titles  He was rumoured to be among five potential candidates to replace Ernesto Valverde at the Nou Camp should the Spaniard get the sack  But it is believed that Belgium's national team boss Roberto Martinez is the frontrunner to succeed the ex-Athletic Bilbao gaffer  And should Martinez get the job, he could bring his former No2 Thierry Henry with him Xavi smashes through walls and dives off the top of a skyscraper in a new advert for QNB

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