Chelsea appoint Xabi Alonso as manager on four-year deal
The 44-year-old Spaniard leaves Real Madrid by mutual consent to take charge at Stamford Bridge, with his contract commencing in July.
Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso as their new manager, signing him to a four-year contract that officially begins in July. The announcement confirms the 44-year-old Spaniard as the club’s third permanent manager this season, succeeding interim boss Calum McFarlane, who will oversee the final two Premier League fixtures.
The appointment follows a period of significant instability at the club, which saw the departures of two previous permanent managers, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior. The confirmation of Alonso’s arrival comes just one day after Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final, a match won by a single goal from Antoine Semenyo that preserved City’s hopes of a domestic treble.
Alonso becomes available after leaving Real Madrid by mutual consent in January, having served less than eight months of a three-year contract. Prior to his time in Spain, he spent three years managing Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the German club to the Bundesliga title and the German Cup in the 2023-24 season, securing the domestic double.
In a statement regarding his appointment, Alonso emphasised the alignment between his goals and the club’s leadership. He stated that conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership revealed a shared ambition to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level. He described the role as a source of immense pride, noting that Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football.
Alonso brings extensive experience to the position, having spent five years in the Premier League with Liverpool, where he won the Champions League in 2005. His playing career also includes spells at Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, alongside 114 appearances for the Spanish national team, during which he won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships.
The club hopes Alonso’s arrival will bring stability and a renewed focus on winning trophies. He acknowledged the talent within the current squad and the potential at the football club, stating that his immediate focus would be on hard work, building the right culture, and securing silverware.
