Advocaat believes Xavi’s standing in the game could help him command the dressing room quickly.
“Alguém com a presença dele, pelo que conquistou como jogador, causa impressão nos atletas,” he said.
That authority could be particularly valuable at international level, where managers have limited time with their players. Xavi would arrive with the credibility of a player who won major honours with Barcelona and Spain, as well as experience managing Barcelona.
For a Netherlands squad containing technically gifted players, his reputation could help establish trust before his tactical ideas are fully embedded.
Xavi’s football has been shaped by Barcelona’s emphasis on control, patient build-up and positional play. A move to the Netherlands would offer an opportunity to apply that philosophy in a different environment.
The challenge would be turning a club-based style into an international structure. With fewer training sessions and less time to correct mistakes, Xavi would need to make his principles simple, adaptable and immediately recognisable.
Advocaat’s assessment is clear: “Ele foi um excelente jogador” - and he believes Xavi is also a very good coach.
The Netherlands job would represent one of Xavi’s biggest tests. The expectation would not merely be attractive football, but progress in major tournaments and a strong connection with the country’s football tradition.
Attention now turns to whether the reported succession becomes official and how quickly Xavi could shape the Netherlands at their next international camp.