Xavi will bring up a century of matches in charge of Barcelona this week when he takes the Spanish champions to Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Going back to the club where you were idolised as a player is not always a great idea, with nostalgia and good-will not enough if results go awry. However, Xavi has, like many Barcelona managers before him, proved that it can be a success.
Xavi has already guided Barcelona to a La Liga title as well as the Spanish Super Cup, continuing his love affair with the Catalan giants. The 43-year-old will be hopeful of emulating the greats that have come before him, including the likes of Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff.
But how does Xavi's first 100 matches in charge compare to those two Barcelona icons? Let's find out.
Xavi's first 100 games in charge of Barcelona
Xavi's return to Barcelona was met with some scepticism considering the fabled former midfielder had only managed Al Sadd in Qatar prior to his appointment. While he was incredibly successful in Asia, he didn't have a track record of producing results in Europe.
However, the Xavi experiment has ultimately proved fruitful. Of his first 99 matches in charge, Xavi has won 63, drawn 17 and lost 19. That puts the Spaniard's win percentage at a little above 63%, averaging 2.08 points-per-game since taking over.
His side have been known for their defensive solidity, one of the reasons they were such comfortable La Liga champions last season, with Barcelona having conceded just 97 during his tenure. The Catalan side have also scored 194 - exactly two goals per match on average.
Xavi has some way to go to match the impressive tallies and trophy cabinets of his predecessors, but he has certainly laid the foundations for success in Spain.
Pep Guardiola's first 100 games in charge of Barcelona
Pep Guardiola was the man to transform Barcelona in the modern era, becoming one of the most influential managers the game has ever seen in the process.
It's hard to believe that the Barcelona job was his first at senior level, but he helped immortalise a generation of stars at Camp Nou, including Xavi, of course.
The now Manchester City manager got off to a flying start too, winning 71 of his first 100, drawing 19 and losing just ten. Such a win percentage is pretty impressive, especially given he helped Barcelona score 242 goals in that century of games, conceding just 76.
However, the most impressive thing is the fact that Guardiola managed to win the sextuple with Barcelona during his first 100 matches. This means lifting the La Liga title, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, with Guardiola the first manager to achieve such a feat.
Guardiola would go on to win 14 trophies with Barcelona, becoming the club's most decorated manager, despite only staying in the job for four years.
Xavi may have made a fast start in the Barcelona hot seat, but Guardiola's was record-breaking.
Johan Cruyff's first 100 games in charge of Barcelona
Guardiola's success would not have been possible without the hard work of Johan Cruyff. The Dutch icon was a legend during his playing days in Catalonia, but also helped revolutionise the club when he took over in 1988.
Cruyff was the architect of Barcelona's now famous La Masia youth academy - a production line that Guardiola utilised during his time at the club and Xavi takes advantage of today - but also finished his reign with 11 trophies, including four successive La Liga titles between 1990 and 1994 and the club's first European Cup in 1992.
However, it wasn't the fastest start for Cruyff. He only managed to win one trophy in his first 100 games - the European Cup Winners' Cup - winning 60, drawing 23 and losing 17 in the process. Barcelona scored 201 in this time and conceded just 87, meaning he boasted a fairly similar record to Xavi's.
Xavi will be hopeful that his managerial career can accelerate at the rate that Cruyff's did, with the Dutch coach finishing his trophy-laden spell at Barcelona with 430 games under his belt.
Xavi's record compared to Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff
READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
This article was originally published on 90min as How Xavi's first 100 games in charge of Barcelona compare to Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff.
