Meet Xavi’s Parents: Joaquim Hernández and Maria Mercè Creus

Xavi Hernández, born Xavier Hernández Creus on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Catalonia, is widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders in football history. He is 46 years old.

He grew up in Terrassa, a Catalan town near Barcelona, where football was a daily preoccupation and a central part of family life.

His father, Joaquim Hernández, was a former professional footballer, and his mother, Maria Mercè Creus, fostered an environment in which the sport was treated with near-total devotion. From an early age, Xavi’s talent and obsession with the game were evident, shaped as much by his household as by the region’s culture.

Xavi strongly identifies with his Catalan heritage and has long spoken of his regional identity in Spain. Raised in a cultural setting influenced by Catholic traditions, he has not emphasized religion publicly, often suggesting that football, and particularly FC Barcelona, occupied a similarly central place in his life.

He is one of four siblings. His older brothers are Óscar Hernández Creus, a former professional player who later served as his assistant coach, and Álex Hernández Creus. He also has a younger sister, Ariadna Hernández, and other siblings, Benny Hernández and Dianalaura Hernández.

At age 11, Xavi joined FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy in 1991 after beginning his youth career at UFB Jàbac Terrassa. La Masia proved decisive, refining his technical precision, tactical intelligence, and deep commitment to Barcelona’s possession-based philosophy. Formal academic pursuits played a limited role as football quickly became his primary focus.

Standing about 1.70 meters tall, Xavi has generally kept his private life out of the spotlight. He married the Spanish journalist Núria Cunillera on July 13, 2013. The couple has two children, a daughter, Asia Hernández, born in 2016, and a son, Dan Hernández, born in 2018.

His career at FC Barcelona, marked by numerous domestic and European titles and a defining role in Spain’s international triumphs, was inseparable from his upbringing.

Joaquim Hernández

Joaquim Hernández (sometimes spelled Joaquín) is Xavi‘s father and a former professional footballer. Born in 1947, he played as a midfielder during the 1960s and 1970s, featuring for clubs such as CE Sabadell (where he appeared in La Liga’s first division), Girona FC, and Reus.

His experience in the sport provided his son with a strong footballing foundation from an early age. Joaquim passed down his passion for the game to Xavi, who began playing football young, influenced by the family environment that “lived and breathed” the sport.

He has been vocal about his son’s career decisions over the years—for instance, in 2015, he publicly confirmed Xavi‘s departure from Barcelona to join Al Sadd, noting the player’s age and the appeal of a new challenge while acknowledging it wasn’t Xavi‘s dream ending at Barça.

Joaquim‘s background, with family origins linked to immigrants from Almería (Andalusia), adds to the story of a working-class family that embraced Catalonia as home. He has attended events with Xavi and remains a supportive figure in his son’s journey from player to coach.

Maria Mercè Creus

Maria Mercè Creus is Xavi‘s mother, originally from Navarcles, Catalonia, where her parents ran a bar. She has been described as a major contributor to Xavi‘s success, inspiring him to pursue football and join FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy at age 11.

One of the most famous anecdotes about Maria Mercè highlights her fierce loyalty to Barcelona. When Xavi was around 18–19 and received attractive offers from AC Milan (reportedly twice the money), his father was inclined to accept, but Maria Mercè strongly opposed it.

She reportedly told her husband, “If Xavi leaves Barcelona, I’ll divorce you!” This stance helped keep Xavi at Barça, a decision that shaped his iconic career and became part of club folklore.

Maria Mercè has appeared alongside her son at public events, including family moments like pregnancy announcements and award ceremonies, reflecting the close-knit family support behind Xavi‘s achievements.

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