5 candidates to be the next Barcelona boss including Xavi and Thierry Henry

Over the summer, Lionel Messi left Barcelona because the club could not afford to keep him and kept Ronald Koeman because they could not afford to sack him.

The Dutchman was due a payoff in the region of £10million for the club parting company with him before the end of his contract in June 2022.

Yet defeat in El Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday and a limp loss at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night meant the outcome was inevitable, with Koeman sacked after the game.

Barca lie ninth in La Liga with just 15 points from their opening 10 games and are in danger of going out of the Champions League group stages - with just three points from their opening three games.

Their season is still salvageable but their position is incredibly tenuous and could see even basic targets - such as a top four finish - missed.

So who will they turn to next? Here are five possible candidates for the post.

Erik ten Hag

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag is among Europe's most highly rated coaches

Barcelona 's Johan Cruyff influences mean current Ajax boss ten Hag would be the candidate who is most qualified for the fit of the role with the most relevant experience.

As with all Ajax - and Barca - teams post-Cruyff, his preference is a 4-3-3 with focus on fluid movement, interchangeable play in attack and a possession-based style.

So far this season, Ajax haven't lost a match, scored 48 goals and conceded just three times; a recent 4-0 thumping of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League was followed by a 5-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie.

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His crowning moment was the Champions League 2018-19 run to the semi-finals, but Ajax have now recovered from losing stars Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech - they look like they can challenge again.

Outside of de Jong's move to Barca, all those stars have struggled to adapt elsewhere and Ten Hag would be the ideal candidate to replace his compatriot Koeman.

After all, in the recent El Clasico loss - all starting outfield players for Barca were trained either in La Masia or in the Netherlands.

Ajax would be entitled to compensation - which Barca can ill-afford at the moment - and would he want to walk away from his current project into the Camp Nou mess?

Xavi Hernandez

Xavi Hernandez is Barca's second highest appearance holder, behind Lionel Messi ( Image:

AFP/Getty Images)

The club legend who is the outstanding candidate in terms of realism and a fit to the club's playing values.

Xavi was the record-appearance holder at Barcelona (767) before being surpassed by Lionel Messi this year and is now coaching Qatari club Al Sadd.

Santi Cazorla, who plays under him at Al Sadd, described his coaching methods this week as "Pure Barca".

Xavi has broken the Qatari domestic record for 34 league games unbeaten and has won seven trophies as club boss.

The downsides are that his experience is in Qatar; a world apart from a top European league and his renumeration in the Middle East would be significant, and almost certainly higher than Barca can afford.

Xavi will manage Barca, that is inevitable. But will he want to do so now? To risk his impeccable reputation at the club? For this squad?

He is overwhelming favourite but represents a huge risk. Maybe that is what the club needs.

Roberto Martinez

Roberto Martinez has been Belgium boss since 2016 ( Image:

Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Known in England for his coaching stints at Swansea, Wigan and Everton, Martinez has gone on to coach Belgium's golden generation.

The Red Devils have been No. 1 in the FIFA World Rankings for years but have fallen short at big tournaments; finishing third in the World Cup in 2018 before this summer's underwhelming quarter-final exit at the Euros.

Jordi Cruyff, son of Johan, was best man at his wedding and his return to Barca in a sporting advisor role this summer may prompt suggestions that Martinez is the man for the job.

Belgium's ageing stars may mean a coaching switch is timely, but he is preparing for next year's World Cup and his contract with the Belgian FA complicates matters.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry spent three seasons at Barcelona ( Image:

REUTERS/David Moir)

The Frenchman netted 49 goals in three seasons for Barca in his playing days, helping them to the 2009 Champions League title.

Now assistant to Roberto Martinez at Belgium, he is a name that has (perhaps surprisingly) been linked to the Camp Nou in previous managerial searches.

His managerial career so far has been hugely disappointing stints in charge of Monaco and Montreal Impact, but he would represent an affordable and attainable option.

He would very much be a left-field choice but Barca's near desperation means that those candidates should not be ruled out.

Marcelo Gallardo

River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo has won two Copa Libertadores title ( Image:

REUTERS)

River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo has long been touted for a move to a high-status European job.

He has won 12 trophies across his seven years in charge of the Buenos Aires giants, including two Copa Libertadores titles.

Widely considered as the best coach in the history of River Plate, he has won more titles than anyone else in the role and more international trophies.

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He has no experience of Spanish football but Spanish is his native language, has a track record of success and would be open to the challenge.

Gallardo's move to European football feels inevitable, and the Camp Nou would offer a huge challenge that he would relish.