International break ushers in legends: Xavi, Zidane, Klopp and Van Bommel take charge | OneFootball

The new international window brings a flurry of appointments, with former players stepping up as national coaches. September’s break features debut bows for Xavi, Zinedine Zidane, Jürgen Klopp and Mark van Bommel.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Xavi, 46, succeeds Ronald Koeman at Netherlands and opens on Thursday in Amsterdam against fellow newcomer Klopp, 59. Netherlands and Germany both fell in the last 16 on penalties after 1-1 draws with Morocco and Paraguay.

Xavi outlined a high-energy, front-foot style built on possession and left Memphis Depay out of his first squad. Klopp called up 44 players for four Nations League fixtures, splitting two lists for different games, with Marc-André ter Stegen in the first and Karim Adeyemi returning after a year under Hansi Flick.

France turn to Zidane, 54, after the 2012 to 2026 Deschamps era, the former Real Madrid coach returning to the dugout for the first time since 2021. The opener is in Türkiye, then neighbours Belgium, now led by Van Bommel, as his son Ruben links up with Xavi.

Van Bommel begins on Friday in Italy, where Roberto Mancini, 61, is back after his 2018 to 2023 tenure. He spoke of repaying fans and aiming to restore Italy over the next four years, naming 34 players and recalling Nicolò Fagioli, Nicolò Zaniolo and Rolando Mandragora.

The reshuffle extends beyond Europe. Senegal have hired Patrick Vieira, 50, Dakar-born and France-raised, whose playing career contrasts with mixed managerial spells at New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace and Strasbourg.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”