Xabi Alonso has been appointed as the new manager of Chelsea with the Spaniard signing a four-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.
“Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Manager of the Men’s Team. The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge,” said the five-time Premier League winner in an official statement.
Alonso becomes the fifth permanent appointment under Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
It marks a return to English football for Alonso, who made 210 appearances for Liverpool as a player before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009 and later ending his playing career with Bayern Munich in 2017.
The 44-year-old Spaniard began his managerial career by taking charge of the Real Sociedad B team in 2019. In 2022, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen. Under him, the Bundesliga club had a historic 2023-24 season in which it achieved the domestic double without losing a game. It also finished runner-up in UEFA Europa League.
In 2025, Alonso was made head coach of Real Madrid. However, he left the job by mutual consent after Los Blancos lost to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in January this year.
“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club,” Alonso said in a statement.
“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.”
Chelsea is set to finish the 2025-26 season trophyless. Currently placed ninth in the Premier League standings, the Blues are also in danger of missing out on European football for the next season.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Published on May 17, 2026
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