Chelsea have prioritised securing the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss as their new manager
Xabi Alonso already voiced his willingness to manage in the Premier League before reports claimed he is open to the Chelsea job.
Alonso features on the Blues’ shortlist for a new long-term manager, following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior in April. Chelsea have entered discussions with the Spaniard’s representatives and, according to The Athletic, the 44-year-old is keen to take the reins at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
It may come as a surprise to some given Alonso’s links with Liverpool, where he won the Champions League as a player and had been tipped to take over from Arne Slot after his dismal season in charge of the Reds. But Slot is expected to keep his job despite facing increasing pressure and even jeers from his own supporters during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
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Alonso’s blocked return to Liverpool makes it less surprising that he is open to becoming Chelsea’s new manager. That is especially the case given the fact he admitted two years ago he was intrigued by the prospect of managing in the Premier League one day, while still at Bayer Leverkusen.
When the subject of working in the Premier League came up in a pre-match press conference in April 2024, Alonso said: “You never know. At the moment I have enough on my plate to think about but I’m still young as a coach and for sure it’s a nice thought.”
Alonso had just snubbed Liverpool by committing his future to Bayer Leverkusen as the Reds sought to secure the Spaniard as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp. It came off the back of Alonso’s historic campaign with the German club.
The former World Cup winner’s stock was at an all-time high after guiding Leverkusen from the brink of relegation to an unbeaten domestic double and the Europa League final in 2023/24. He stayed in Germany for one more season, which proved more difficult, before being appointed as Real Madrid’s manager last summer – another of his former clubs.
Alonso left his position in the Spanish capital after less than eight months in charge. Disappointing results, question marks over his tactics and reports of unrest in the dressing room were rumoured to be the causes of his exit, which was described as a “mutual agreement”.
Looking forward to his potential arrival at Chelsea, the Blues plan to have a new head coach in place by mid-June. Regardless of whether they secure Champions League qualification, the club are gearing up for a busy summer and intend to recruit at least a new centre-back, central midfielder and left-sided winger.
Alonso, based on suggestions he is open to the Chelsea job, does not appear to be put off by the failure of the Blues’ managers under the club’s new ownership in recent years. Rosenior lasted just 106 days at Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca’s replacement, paying the price for a dreadful run of results that looks likely to deny Chelsea a Champions League spot.
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