On Sunday, March 17, Chelsea announced that Xabi Alonso has been appointed as the new Chelsea manager.
The Spaniard will take charge of the west London club on July 1, 2026, on a four-year contract, with the announcement coming just hours after Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup final loss to Manchester City.
Alonso Filled With ‘Pride’ as New Chelsea Manager
Alonso will be replacing Liam Rosenior, who served for only 107 days following Enzo Maresca’s departure on January 1, 2026. Since Rosenior’s sacking, former U21 coach Calum McFarlane has been serving as interim until the end of the 2025/26 season.
The new Chelsea manager 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.
“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.
“There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.
Before the announcement of Alonso as the new Chelsea manager, the Premier League club were assessing multiple options, including Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva. Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Como’s Cesc Fabregas and ex-Flamengo boss Filipe Luis were also considered.
When it was first announced that Alonso, Iraola and Silva were the favourites to take on the role of new Chelsea manager, there was a lot of positive reaction surrounding Alonso’s name, and even more so after reports stated that he was the club’s No.1 option.
Why Xabi Alonso Fits
As the modern game grows, Alonso has become one of the most respected young managers in Europe. He is known for his calm leadership and discipline, and flexibility to play in different formations.
His time at Bayer Leverkusen was wildly successful, leading the German club to their first-ever Bundesliga title in a dominant 2023/24 season.
And while his time managing Real Madrid – where he previously played – didn’t have the fairytale ending many had hoped for, Alonso is still a respectable figure in the modern game.
He has been linked with a move to Liverpool, where he also previously played, especially after his dismissal from Real Madrid, but ultimately, it was Chelsea who put pen to paper.
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New Era Under BlueCo and Todd Boehly?
Alonso will become the sixth permanent Chelsea manager under BlueCo and Todd Boehly – Thomas Tuchel (2022), Graham Potter (2022-2023), Mauricio Pochettino (2023-2024), Enzo Maresca (2024-2026), Liam Rosenior (2025) and now Alonso.
According to reports, the Chelsea board were stating that they were willing to give more power to the manager moving forward. It is important to note that Alonso is the first appointment under BlueCo with the title ‘manager,’ and not ‘head coach.’
This suggests that, as the new Chelsea manager, Alonso will be the first with real control over football decisions and during transfer windows, allowing him to build the team that he desires in West London.
The Blues are currently ninth in the Premier League table and hanging on to a sliver of hope of playing European football next season. An eighth-place finish is likely to secure a place in the UEFA Conference League, a competition the Blues won under Maresca in 2025.
After four seasons under BlueCo and an ‘exciting Chelsea project’ yet to actually deliver, patience among the fanbase has run thin, with many demanding the signing of a ‘top’ manager, and transfer signings that have a positive impact on the club in both the short and long run.
According to reports, the London side are looking to sign more experienced players in the upcoming transfer window, including a centre-back.
For Chelsea, the appointment of Alonso feels like more than just another managerial change. After years of instability and constant turnover under BlueCo, this now looks like a defining moment.
With greater control, growing expectations and a fanbase desperate for success, Alonso arrives with the task of proving that Chelsea’s long-term project can finally become a reality.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sven Simon
Recording Date: 17.08.2024
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