Where no one dares to sit, Xavi does: Barca icon eyes Oranje’s bench

What do Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag have in common? They both turned down the chance to take over the Netherlands national team.Apart from the two Dutchmen, Peter Bosz, Michael Reiziger, Louis van Gaal, and even Pep Guardiola were linked with the vacancy left by Ronald Koeman's departure. However, as things stand, the new Oranje manager looks set to be a Spaniard.According to the Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Xavi Hernandez and Roberto Martinez are currently leading candidates to take charge of the Netherlands.Xavi and Roberto Martínez have emerged as candidates for the Netherlands job. 🇳🇱The Dutch FA have already held talks with both managers, with a decision expected in the coming days. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/IXFVR5dCca— SPORF (@Sporf) August 12, 2026 The Barcelona icon has recently emerged as a strong option, despite having relatively modest coaching experience, having managed Qatari side Al-Sadd for two years before taking charge of his boyhood club, Barca, from November 2021 – when he also succeeded Koeman – until April 2024.Still, Xavi's strong suit is his familiarity with Dutch football, having played and worked with numerous icons from the Netherlands – from Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Mark van Bommel, and the De Boer brothers to Frenkie de Jong, whom he recently coached at Camp Nou.Slot refuses two jobs after Liverpool sackBy contrast, Martinez has far more experience in international football, having managed Belgium for six years and Portugal for three.Nevertheless, his record is hardly convincing.He guided the Red Devils' "golden generation" only to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup and had an underwhelming stint with the Navigators' star-studded squad – they won only the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League – meaning that the 53-year-old doesn't exactly have a reputation for consistently delivering results.##NAJAVA_MECA_9891467##Either way, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has few options, with a very thin shortlist of candidates, so it would hardly be a surprise if one of the two Spaniards were soon handed the national team job.The UEFA Nations League campaign begins in approximately six weeks, so the Oranje can't afford to waste any time.