Chelsea appoint Xabi Alonso as coach on four-year deal
Chelsea have appointed Spanish tactician Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a four-year deal, bringing an end to weeks of speculation over the club’s next head coach. The 44-year-old former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder will take charge from July 1, 2026, after agreeing a contract that runs until 2030. Alonso has been out of work since his brief spell in charge of Real Madrid ended in January, but his reputation remains high after previously guiding Bayer Leverkusen to an historic unbeaten Bundesliga title. Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, identified him as their top target following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior and moved quickly to finalise personal terms. Reports say Alonso sought clear assurances over Chelsea’s transfer strategy and the extent of his authority before committing to the project. His title as manager rather than just head coach is seen as a significant […]