FC Barcelona introduced Thursday that Xavi Pascual will return as head coach of the basketball workforce, signing a contract by June 2028. The 53-year-old joins the squad on November 17, following interim management beneath Oscar Orellana after Joan Peñarroya’s departure earlier this month.
Pascual beforehand led Barcelona from 2008 to 2016, successful 19 titles, together with a EuroLeague championship in 2009-10 and 4 ACB league titles. His first tenure included 9 consecutive league finals and 5 EuroLeague Ultimate 4 appearances, establishing him as probably the most profitable coaches in membership historical past.
The Catalan coach has spent the previous 9 years main European groups, together with Panathinaikos and Zenit Saint Petersburg, securing a number of home championships and cups. His return is considered as a stabilizing transfer amid inconsistent performances within the 2025-26 season.
Barcelona presently sits eighth within the EuroLeague with a 6-4 file, holding a destructive level differential of -6, whereas home ACB outcomes have been disappointing, leaving the workforce eleventh with a 2-4 file. The workforce has struggled to seek out consistency each at residence and on the street.
Pascual will probably be joined by assistant coach Inigo Zorzano, resuming the teaching construction that proved profitable throughout his first tenure. Membership president Joan Laporta and sports activities director Josep Cubells had been immediately concerned in negotiating Pascual’s return, emphasizing continuity and management stability.
Key gamers like Will Clyburn and Tornike Shengelia have carried a lot of the workforce’s scoring load, averaging 14.2 and 13.5 factors per recreation respectively in EuroLeague play. Kevin Punter and Tomas Satoransky have additionally contributed strong manufacturing, however total workforce steadiness has been a problem this season.
