Chelsea are considering appointing Xabi Alonso as their new permanent manager following Liam Rosenior’s dismissal, and the former Real Madrid midfielder is now thought to be one of the leading candidates.
The Blues’ search for a new permanent manager ahead of a summer rebuild is understood to be in full flow, with Alonso reportedly willing to hold talks over taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge. No decision is said to have been made at this stage, though, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola also a major admirer by Chelsea officials.
Alonso left his role at Real Madrid in January after just seven months of a three-year contract, after the Spanish giants had a stop-start campaign which included a dominant win in El Clásico against Barcelona but defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final. The 42-year-old is still regarded highly all over Europe for his success at Bayer Leverkusen after taking them to their first-ever Bundesliga title without a single domestic loss during the 2023-24 season.
He became one of Europe’s brightest young managers during his successful time in Germany, and many believe his intelligent tactical flexibility and ability to play a possession-based style could be the perfect fit for Chelsea’s young squad. During his tenure in Germany, Alonso mastered an effective, attacking, and proactive style of football and possessed an excellent record of improving and developing players, something Chelsea desperately needs.
Chelsea’s hierarchy is also hugely admiring of current Bournemouth manager Iraola after his impressive attacking pressing system at the club this season and rapid improvement of developing players at Dean Court, and the Spaniard himself is also said to be open to the move, having previously hinted he would leave the Cherries at the end of the season.
Chelsea have been without a permanent manager since they axed Rosenior following a tough few months of poor results at Stamford Bridge in April. The club expects Calum McFarlane to continue to take charge on a temporary basis until the end of the season, before the club appoints a permanent head coach of their own. The club is expected to ramp up discussions of who they want appointed before the start of the summer break and the next season.
