Barcelona manager Xavi is to leave the club following another dramatic U-turn at the Catalan giants.
The 44-year-old previously announced his decision to step down in January following a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal that left them 10 points off leaders Real Madrid, but three months later following an upturn in results was persuaded to stay.
However, in a meeting with club president Joan Laporta at the training ground on Friday, the former Spain and Barca midfield star was informed he will not be kept on beyond the end of the current campaign against Sevilla on Sunday.
It has been reported that former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Hansi Flick is being lined up as Xavi's replacement.
A club statement said: "FC Barcelona wishes to thank Xavi for his work as coach, as well as for his inimitable career as a player and as team captain, and wishes him every future success in the world.
"Xavi Hernandez will be coaching the team for the last time in Sunday’s game away to Sevilla.
"During the course of the next few days, FC Barcelona will be making an announcement regarding the new first-team structure."
Having been appointed in November 2021 to manage the club where he won 25 major trophies as a player, 2010 World Cup winner Xavi steered the team from ninth place in LaLiga to the runners-up spot following the sacking of Ronald Koeman.
Barca were crowned champions in his first full season in charge but they subsequently failed to mount a serious challenge to retain their title this term and sit 12 points behind Real going into the final game of the season.
Earlier on Friday, AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli revealed he will leave the Italian club at the end of the season after five years in charge.
The 58-year-old was appointed in 2019 and three years later led the team to a first Serie A title since 2011. But they have failed mount a serious challenge in the two campaigns since and, despite being set to finish runners-up, they are 19 points behind champions and bitter rivals Inter ahead of their final game.
As defending champions last season they came fourth, 20 points adrift of Napoli but the former Fiorentina coach masterminded a worthy Champions League campaign, guiding the Rossoneri to the semi-final where they were defeated 3-0 on aggregate by their city rivals.
This season they were eliminated in the group stage after finishing behind Paris St Germain and eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund, dropping into the Europa League where they were beaten at the quarter-final stage by Roma.
Previously Pioli had overseen an end to the club's eight-year exile from Europe’s top competition after financial troubles condemned them to a succession of mid-table finishes.
A club statement said: "AC Milan extends heartfelt thanks to Stefano Pioli and his entire staff for leading the first team over the past five years, securing an unforgettable League title and re-establishing AC Milan’s consistent presence in the top European competition.
"Stefano’s professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the club’s core values from day one.
"Stefano Pioli expresses his gratitude to AC Milan for the opportunity to be part of the history of this glorious club."
Milan round off their Serie A season at home to relegated Salernitana on Saturday when French striker Olivier Giroud will play his final game for the club.
France's record goalscorer has announced his intention to retire from international football after Euro 2024.
He was named in manager Didier Deschamps' provisional 25-man squad for the Euros last week.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker has scored 57 goals in 131 appearances for France and was a member of the squad that won the World Cup in 2018.
The 37-year-old agreed a deal to join Los Angeles FC earlier this month after three years with AC Milan but does not intend to continue on the international front.
"To be honest, this will be my last competition with Les Bleus," Giroud told L'Equipe. "Obviously, I’m going to miss it a lot.
"But I think the French team will be over after the Euros. We need to make way for the youngsters.
"You also have to be careful not to have one season too many. You have to find the right balance.
"I’ve always said that I was going to stop when my body asked me to. I think I’ve got two good years left but, as far as the French team is concerned, I think that’ll be the end of it."
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