Xavi is set to be appointed the new head coach of the Netherlands ahead of Roberto Martinez, talkSPORT understands.Martinez had looked the favourite to take the reigns of the Dutch national team, who are currently without a manager following Ronald Koeman’s departure.Xavi is in line to make his return to the dugoutGettyHaving stepped down as Portugal boss after their World Cup exit, Martinez was free to make an immediate return to management.However, talkSPORT understands that the 53-year-old was interviewed for the Netherlands vacancy, only to be turned down.And in the Spaniard’s place, the Netherlands are now set to appoint footballing legend and former Barcelona manager, Xavi.The 46-year-old has not managed since his departure from the Camp Nou in 2024, where he spent three years in charge of his former club.As a player, Xavi played a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph in 2010, where they beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the final in Johannesburg. Should the legendary midfielder’s appointment as Holland boss go through, he will become the first foreign manager of their national team in 48 years.Ernst Happel was the last man to do so, with the Austrian spending a year in charge between 1977 and 1978.This is a developing story and is being updated.For the latest updates, breaking news alerts, and comprehensive analysis, refresh this page or follow our real-time news coverage by watching and listening to talkSPORT live.For broader context, explore related coverage on our homepage for the top trending stories. For the latest talkSPORT videos, download the app.talkSPORT cares about getting it right, not just getting it first and because this is a developing situation, details will change. We will be updating this page constantly with verified info, expert takes, and official statements.Stay tuned for further developments as this story continues to break.