As Monterrey prepares for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the club finds itself in urgent need of new leadership following the recent departure of Martin Demichelis. With high-stakes fixtures ahead—including group stage matches against Inter, River Plate, and Urawa Reds—the Rayados board is moving swiftly to secure a replacement, and one name has emerged as a particularly intriguing candidate.
The Demichelis era came to an abrupt end after Monterrey’s early elimination in the Clausura 2025 quarter-finals at the hands of Toluca. His tenure, which began just last summer, spanned 42 games and yielded a mixed record of 20 wins, 11 draws, and 11 losses. Though the Argentine tactician arrived with promise, Monterrey’s inconsistency in Liga MX and lack of silverware proved costly.
The pressure is now on the club’s hierarchy to appoint a new head coach capable of guiding the team through a defining chapter in their history. With the international spotlight of the Club World Cup looming, the incoming manager must not only deliver results but also galvanize a squad that includes veterans like Sergio Ramos.
The World Cup winner with a global resume
Among the leading contenders is a coach with a glittering past: Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup-winning captain of Italy and Ballon d’Or recipient, has become a frontrunner for the Rayados job. “Talks have taken place with Cannavaro, who is open to the challenge and intrigued by the idea of managing in Liga MX,” reported transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Cannavaro, now 51, has managed over 200 matches across a career that includes spells in China, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and most recently Dinamo Zagreb, where he parted ways in April following a series of disappointing results. Despite a modest recent win record—just 12 wins from his last 37 matches—his name still carries global weight.
His coaching journey began in 2014 with Guangzhou Evergrande, where he won both the Chinese Super League and Chinese Super Cup. Later roles at Tianjin Quanjian, Al-Nassr, Benevento, Udinese, and the China national team have added to his diverse résumé.
Monterrey is reportedly prepared to meet Cannavaro’s salary expectations—estimated at around $5 million—and sees his leadership as a potential catalyst for renewed ambition.
Xavi also in the frame
But Cannavaro isn’t the only high-profile name on Monterrey’s radar. Xavi Hernandez, the legendary former Barcelona midfielder and coach, is also being seriously considered.
Having recently stepped down at Barca, Xavi is currently a free agent and open to new challenges. Monterrey views his possession-oriented style as a good match for their current squad, which includes technically gifted veterans such as Sergio Canales, Hector Moreno, and Sergio Ramos—the latter having shared a dressing room with Xavi for years in the Spanish national team.
“The club believes Xavi’s style of play could seamlessly fit into a team built around experienced players capable of executing a sophisticated tactical plan,” a source close to Monterrey management told ESPN.
Moreover, Grupo FEMSA’s longstanding admiration for Xavi could help accelerate talks. While no formal negotiations have begun yet, interest is described as “genuine”, and Xavi is said to be “carefully considering” the offer.
