The keys to Xavi Pascual's return to FC Barcelona

Xavi Pascual will return to the FC Barcelona basketball bench, with an agreement that will bind him to the club until June 2028. Although the final signature is still pending, there is already total understanding between the Catalan coach and the Blaugrana entity. His arrival will be effective on November 17, once the team has played the matches against Virtus and Baskonia at the Palau Blaugrana.

The negotiation was closed after a direct conversation between Joan Laporta, Josep Cubells, and Pascual himself, a key dialogue to quickly reach an agreement in an economic context that is still complicated for the club.

At 53 years old, Pascual will live his second stage at the helm of Barça, taking over from Joan Peñarroya. His first stage, between 2008 and 2016, was one of the most successful in the team's history, with a total of 19 titles won. In this new stage, he will once again have Iñigo Zorzano as assistant coach, repeating the technical duo that yielded such good results in the past.

During his eight years and four months on the Blaugrana bench, Pascual left a deep mark, becoming one of the most beloved coaches by the Barça fans. He will return to Palau 3,425 days after his last game in charge of the team. During his time away from Barcelona, he coached Panathinaikos (2016-2018), with whom he won two leagues and a cup in Greece, and Zenit St. Petersburg (2020-2025), where he clinched a league title, a cup, and two Russian Super Cups.

Before taking over the first team, Pascual built his career in different Catalan clubs and joined Barça in the 2004-05 season as the coach of the reserve team in the Liga EBA. A year later, he became Dusko Ivanovic's assistant, a position he held until February 2008 when he took over the first team.

Eight years of madness

In his eight years as head coach, Barça achieved an impressive record: one EuroLeague (2009/10), four ACB Leagues, three Copa del Rey titles, four Super Cups, and seven consecutive Catalan Leagues. In addition to the titles, his teams were characterized by great consistency, reaching nine consecutive ACB League finals, five EuroLeague Final Fours, six Copa del Rey finals, and seven Supercopa finals.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las claves del regreso de Xavi Pascual al FC Barcelona