The Barcelona legend named a surprise candidate to replace Xavi Hernandez

After Barcelona's exit from the Champions League, it's likely that the club's leadership has abandoned attempts to persuade Xavi Hernandez to remain in the Catalan managerial seat.

With a high degree of probability, Blaugrana will conclude the current season without silverware, having lost the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España, exited the Champions League in the quarterfinals, and currently trail Real Madrid by eight points in La Liga with seven matches remaining in the current campaign.

Back in winter, Xavi Hernandez announced his decision to depart the team at the end of the season. While there's interest in him from Ajax, Barcelona continues its search for a new coach.

At present, the frontrunner to replace Xavi is the coach of Barcelona's reserve team, Rafael Marquez. However, fans are against this decision, preferring a more experienced mentor at the helm of their team.

During an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the legendary Brazilian player of Barcelona, Rivaldo, expressed his thoughts on who would be an excellent successor to Xavi. In his opinion, José Mourinho would excel in this role.

"Many fans disagree with players or coaches who have played or coached the rival team [referring to Real Madrid], but José Mourinho has already been at Barcelona, and he is a wonderful person. His assertiveness and conflicts with his own fans may cause concern from the outset, but he is a winner.

Considering that he is currently without a club and given the situation at Barcelona, in my opinion, it's easier for him to join the team. I think he would be an excellent addition, even if some fans don't want to hear his name. Without a doubt, he would do an excellent job; he knows the team, the Spanish league, the Champions League, and he has vast experience".

José Mourinho was previously part of Barcelona's coaching staff, serving as assistant to Bobby Robson from 1996 to 2000. However, Barcelona fans mostly remember his tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013 when Los Blancos clinched La Liga titles, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España. Therefore, Mourinho's appointment as Barcelona's head coach could spark controversy among fans.