Xabi Alonso to Chelsea: Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach confirmed as manager at Stamford Bridge | Football news
Chelsea have announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager.
Alonso will start his career on July 1 and has signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Alonso said: “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it makes me very proud to be the manager of this great club.
“In my discussions with the ownership group and the leadership of the sport, it is clear that we have the same desire. We want to build a team that can compete continuously at the highest level and fight for trophies.
“There is a lot of talent in the squad and a lot of energy in this football club, and it will be an honor for me to lead it. Now the focus is on working hard, building the right culture and winning trophies.”
Alonso was Chelsea’s number 1
Chelsea, currently ninth in the Premier League, have been looking for a new manager after sacking Liam Rosenior in April after just three months in charge.
The former Real Madrid manager was Chelsea’s number 1 and the former Liverpool midfielder will hold the title of manager rather than head coach, given his experience and the key role he will play in helping to improve all aspects of the club.
News of Alonso’s imminent appointment came shortly after Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, with interim manager Calum McFarlane in jail.
Alonso’s availability has fueled speculation about a return to Anfield amid Arne Slot’s troubles, but the Dutchman says he expects to stay in charge.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and Fulham head coach Marco Silva were other managers on Chelsea’s shortlist, with Iraola understood to have been particularly impressed.
Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Como’s Cesc Fabregas and former Flamengo manager Filipe Luis have also been considered.
Alonso has been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid in January, seven months after he started.
He won the Champions League twice as a player, and also led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga season in 2023/24.
Alonso will be the fifth permanent appointment in the era of BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Rosenior.
Why Chelsea went for Alonso – and how he fits in
Alonso will take part in Chelsea’s summer transfer program
Chelsea believe that their latest appointment shows that lessons have been learned from past mistakes, when Alonso was challenged to build a culture and a team.
Club managers consider him one of the most respected young coaches in European football and believe that he has the character and style of a calm leader, as well as the ability to play in different formations.
Alonso will work with the club’s existing sporting directors and ownership group in the summer business.
Chelsea are looking to add experience to their squad by signing a number of first-team ready players – including a defender in the upcoming transfer window.
City’s defeat in the FA Cup final means Chelsea could be without European football next season for the second time in the BlueCo era.
An eighth-place finish would secure the Conference League and, although unlikely, a sixth- or seventh-place finish could get them into the Europa League.
But Chelsea’s management wants to consistently compete for major trophies and believes Alonso fits the long-term strategy.
Leverkusen’s Invincible season highlights Alonso’s embryonic coaching CV
Sky Sports Rich Morgan:
After hanging up his boots in 2017 after 18 cup-filled years with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain, Alonso began his coaching career. Los Blancos‘U14s.
The Basque then spent three years with the Real Sociedad B team, before taking over from Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022 with the second-bottom Bundesliga club, guiding them to sixth place and the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Xabi Alonso lifted the Bundesliga trophy after an unbeaten season
In his first full season in charge at the BayArena, Leverkusen – playing in a 3-4-3 formation – won their first Bundesliga title while going the entire campaign unbeaten, setting a new record 51-game unbeaten run in all competitions en route to two home runs.
However, Alonso left Leverkusen after finishing second to Bayern Munich in the 2024/25 season, replacing Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid head coach on a three-year deal in May.
Leverkusen lifted the DFB-Pokal for the first time at home
His time at the Bernabeu began with defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of that summer’s Club World Cup and despite beating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear of their arch-rivals at the top of LaLiga in late October, a drop in results coupled with a strained relationship with star player Vinicius Junior led to his exit in early January.
‘The appointment of a statement before the summer of rebuilding’
Sky Sports News reporter James Cole:
“This agreement comes after weeks of negotiations between Chelsea and Alonso.
“He was always looked after in the list of three players.
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Sky Sports’ James Cole reports from Wembley as Manchester City beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final
“They were able to clarify the points of the agreement, the agreement has been concluded.
“He is a statement that the Chelsea management feel they can calm the storm that has engulfed Chelsea in the last few weeks about the disconnect between the fans, the owners and their business model.”
Your thoughts: ‘The best moment Chelsea could have had’
Nathan: As a Chelsea fan I have been critical of BlueCo but they deserve a lot of credit for pulling this off. Welcome to Chelsea, Xabi Alonso.
DanO: Alonso is arguably the best signing Chelsea could have made. The only question is whether the board and the sports directors have learned their lessons and will stop controlling…
JP: How did FSG allow this to happen?! Well done to Chelsea for getting him but us [Liverpool] we had a chance to get him but instead we stick with Slot who has gone off the deep end and is holding us back.
Lewie V: I am very happy with this appointment based on the work Leverkusen has done. Let the man do his job and Chelsea can get back to business.
F20GHT: Do you think it’s a good appointment but will Chelsea get experienced players and stop blaming the manager if things don’t go well? Buying players for the ‘future’ is no longer the norm.
Shanepancho778: As a lifelong Liverpool fan I am delighted to hear this news. I honestly thought it was inevitable that by the end of the season Slot would be gone and Alonso would be swept right away to have a full pre-season. He will never manage Liverpool now.
