Xavi Pascual named Dubai Basketball head coach after leaving FC Barcelona

Xavi Pascual is the new head coach of Dubai Basketball. The veteran Spanish coach has activated his release clause at FC Barcelona and signed a three-year deal with Dubai through the 2028-29 season. He replaces Aleksander Sekulic, who heads to Barcelona, as Dubai prepares for its second EuroLeague campaign in 2026-27.

By@Rédaction Bebasket

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Xavi Pascual named Dubai Basketball head coach after leaving FC Barcelona

Photo Credit : EuroLeague

Announcement date: July 14, 2026
Contract: 3 years, through end of 2028-29 season
Previous club: FC Barcelona (second stint: November 2025 – July 2026)
EuroLeague coaching record: 256 wins – 129 losses (66.5% win rate)
Replaces: Aleksander Sekulic (now FC Barcelona head coach)

Xavi Pascual is the new head coach of Dubai Basketball. The club officially announced his signing on July 14, 2026, just hours after the 53-year-old Catalan coach activated the release clause in his FC Barcelona contract, ending his brief second stint with the Blaugrana. Dubai Basketball wasted no time sealing the deal, securing Pascual on a three-year contract running through the 2028-29 season.

« One of European basketball’s most respected coaches is coming to Dubai. A proven winner. Welcome to Dubai Basketball, Head Coach Xavi Pascual, » the club wrote on social media.

Why Did Xavi Pascual Leave Barcelona?

Pascual’s second stint at Barcelona lasted just eight months. He returned to the club on November 17, 2025, but his contract — which ran through 2028 — included a release clause he ultimately chose to exercise. During his time back at the Palau Blaugrana, he coached 68 games across all competitions: 37 in Liga Endesa, 29 in the EuroLeague, and 2 in the Copa del Rey. The team reached the Spanish League finals and the EuroLeague Play-In Showdown under his leadership.

Barcelona‘s farewell statement was measured and warm: « Xavi Pascual will always be welcome at the Palau Blaugrana. » Assistant coach Iñigo Zorzano, who had returned to the club alongside Pascual, will also depart. Aleksander Sekulic — previously Dubai’s head coach — has been confirmed as Pascual’s direct successor at Barcelona.

Xavi Pascual’s EuroLeague Coaching Record and Career Honors

Pascual’s résumé is one of the most decorated in European basketball. His EuroLeague record stands at 256 wins and 129 losses, a 66.5% winning percentage. He is tied with Dimitris Itoudis as the fastest coach to reach 100 EuroLeague victories, doing so in just 124 games.

Here is a full breakdown of his major coaching honors:

FC Barcelona | 2008–2014 | EuroLeague 2010, 4× Liga ACB, 3× Copa del Rey, 5 Final Four appearances
Panathinaikos | 2015–2018 | 2× Greek League, 1× Greek Cup, 2× EuroLeague Playoffs
Zenit St. Petersburg | 2018–2023 | VTB United League 2022, Russian Cup 2024, EuroLeague Playoffs 2021
FC Barcelona | 2025–2026 | Liga ACB Finals, EuroLeague Play-In

His 2010 EuroLeague title with Barcelona made him the first Spanish coach in 30 years to win the competition, earning him the Alexander Gomelskiy Coach of the Year award that season.

Dubai Basketball’s Big Ambitions for the 2026-27 EuroLeague Season

Pascual arrives at a club with clear upward momentum. Dubai Basketball completed its inaugural EuroLeague season in 2025-26, finishing just one spot short of the play-in zone. With a heavily reinforced roster and now one of Europe’s most experienced coaches at the helm, the ambition for 2026-27 is unmistakable.

The squad already features several high-profile names: McKinley Wright IV (signed through 2029), Dzanan Musa, Klemen Prepelic, Dwayne Bacon, Davis Bertans, Filip Petrusev, and Mfiondu Kabengele, among others. Incoming additions include Elie Okobo, Jaron Blossomgame, Mamadi Diakite, and Davion Mintz.

Pascual has an existing relationship with Dwayne Bacon: the American wing was named the 2025 VTB United League MVP under Pascual’s guidance at Zenit St. Petersburg. That familiarity — and Pascual’s track record of building winning cultures quickly — suggests Dubai’s second EuroLeague season could look very different from its first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new head coach of Dubai Basketball?

Xavi Pascual is the new head coach of Dubai Basketball, officially announced on July 14, 2026. He signed a three-year deal running through the end of the 2028-29 season.

How many EuroLeague games has Xavi Pascual coached?

Xavi Pascual has a career EuroLeague record of 256 wins and 129 losses across his stints at Barcelona, Panathinaikos, and Zenit St. Petersburg, for a 66.5% winning percentage.