Xavi Pascual will remain at the helm of Zenit Saint Petersburg, with the Russian club agreeing to extend his contract for an additional season. The 51-year-old coach has been leading the team since 2020 and will start his fifth year in Russia.
Pascual’s name was recently floated as a potential replacement for Roger Grimau at Barcelona, a team he previously led from 2008 to 2016. During his tenure, he guided the club to the second Euroleague title in its history and was the initial choice to return to the Palau bench.
However, a disagreement over financial terms led to a breakdown in negotiations with Barcelona, and Pascual has since been linked to other top-tier teams. He has not coached in Spain since his departure from Barcelona in 2016.
Pascual went on to coach Panathinaikos in Athens before taking the reins at Zenit in 2020. Despite the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine and the ban on Russian teams in European competitions, he has maintained his position and will continue to lead the team for at least one more season.
The renewal does not commit Pascual to a long-term deal, leaving him free to explore other opportunities if a suitable proposal arises.
