Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a four-year contract. The Spaniard will officially take charge on 1 July, marking his first managerial role in the Premier League. He replaces Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last month, with Calum McFarlane having served as interim manager.
Alonso, 42, arrives after an eight-month stint at Real Madrid that ended in January by mutual consent following poor results and reports of losing the dressing room. However, his reputation was built at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the club to the German title and an unbeaten domestic campaign in 2023-24. Chelsea described him as 'one of the most respected figures in the modern game'.
On his appointment, Alonso said: 'Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.' He added: 'From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.'
Chelsea are unlikely to qualify for next season's Champions League and may miss out on European competition entirely after losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City on Saturday. The club have been trophyless this season, though they won the Club World Cup last summer. The ownership, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, has spent around £2bn on players since the 2022 takeover, focusing on young talent on long contracts.
Alonso's appointment follows a turbulent end to Rosenior's tenure, with Chelsea's ownership pledging a 'process of self-reflection' amid fan unrest over the club's direction and financial concerns. Alonso was on Chelsea's radar for at least three years, and the shortlist also included Filipe Luís, Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner and Marco Silva.
