Xavi will take over as Al Sadd coach in the summer Football - Qatar He will sign a two year deal

It is not yet official, but it will soon be confirmed that Xavi Hernandez will retire this summer at the age of 38 and take over as coach of Doha based team Al Sadd, having joined them as a player in 2015.

The Spaniard is expected to sign a two year contract with a matter of days.

The only way in which Xavi may continue to play beyond the end of this season is if his team remain in the Asian Champions League as the current season does not come to an end until November.

After two years under the command of Portuguese former Malaga coach Jesualdo Ferreira, Xavi will replace him this summer with it looking unlikely that Al Sadd will win the league with one game left to play.

Everything is in place for Xavi to take the next step in his career as he targets one day taking up a place in the Estadio Camp Nou dugout.

The fact that Xavi will sign a two year deal is not new, having been confirmed by the club over a week ago.

"The club have come to the beginning of an agreement for Xavi to continue for two more season, although his role has not yet been determined," managing director of the club Turki Al-Ali said.

"He could continue as a player or just as well in another role, it will be announced soon."

His current contract is due to expire in June.

It will not be Xavi's first experience as a coach, having assisted Spanish coach Felix Sanchez with the Qatar national team and is expected to do so until the World Cup in 2022.

In fact, the federation of Qatar are hoping that he will take charge of the team for the 2022 World Cup, when he would then switch his attention to Europe.

Once the season is over in Qatar, Xavi will travel to Russia where he will attend the opening game and Spain's fixture against Portugal as an invited guest of Gianni Infantino.