Xavi Hernandez, the manager of FC Barcelona, has resigned from the club following the current season.

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Xavi Hernandez, a well-known former player and the current manager of FC Barcelona, has made the decision to step down from his role as the head of the iconic football club. The announcement was made shortly after the conclusion of the current season.

"He will not continue beyond 30 June this year, even though his contract runs until the following summer. The former captain, midfield legend, and footballing ideologue insisted the club needed a 'change of direction' and that he could not allow the situation to continue, as a crisis of results and performance continues. He called the decision 'common sense' and said that, as a Barcelona fan, he felt that in leaving he was doing the right thing.

Xavi made the decision several days ago. Although the hard defeat to Villarreal set the scene for him to announce the decision, he would have made it soon enough. He hopes this decision will decrease the stress and tension his team is enduring."

“The feeling of being the coach of Barcelona is cruel, it is unpleasant, you feel like you don’t get the respect you deserve,” Xavi said. “It wears you down, affects your mental health, your emotions, up to the point that you say you can’t go on. My loved ones know that.”

Xavi confirmed the news following a “human” conversation with the club’s president, Joan Laporta, after a 5-3 home defeat against Villarreal left them 10 points behind the league leaders, Real Madrid, but revealed that he had taken the decision a few days ago.

Goals from Alex Baena and Moreno were disallowed for Villarreal before the latter finally broke the deadlock, finishing well from Sorloth's cut-back. At half-time, Barcelona was whistled by disgruntled supporters at their temporary home at the Olympic Stadium, after conceding a foolish second goal. 

A bad Cancelo mistake allowed Akhomach to gallop in, round Inaki Pena, and fire home. However, the Catalans fought back, with Gundogan finishing superbly from the edge of the box after an hour, Pedri driving home eight minutes later to level, and Bailly heading Gundogan's free-kick into his own net. Despite their efforts, Barcelona's defense, which was a far cry from the watertight back-line that led them to the title last season, was pulled apart again.

Barcelona is set to play Napoli in the Champions League round of 16 next month. Xavi said he was still motivated to lead the team at what is no doubt a long-shot bid at ending his stint with a European Cup.

Players, including midfielder Frenkie de Jong and defender Ronald Araujo, expressed their confidence in the technical team, attributing recent challenges to the players rather than the coach.

As Barcelona looks towards the future without Xavi at the helm, one thing is certain – the departure of the club legend will leave an indelible mark on the history of FC Barcelona.