Xabi Alonso announced as new Chelsea manager and signs a four-year contract

Xabi Alonso has been appointed as Chelsea’s new manager and the Spaniard has signed a four-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.

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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 started his managerial career by taking charge of the Real Sociedad B team in 2019. In 2022 he switched to Bayer Leverkusen. Under him, the Bundesliga club enjoyed a historic 2023/24 season, achieving the domestic double without losing a single match. It also finished second in the UEFA Europa League.

In 2025, Alonso was appointed 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 enormous pride to become manager of this great club,” Alonso said in a statement.

“From my discussions with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear that we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of consistently competing at the highest level and fighting for trophies.”

“There is a lot of talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honor to lead. Now the focus is on working hard, building the right culture and winning trophies.”

Chelsea will end the 2025/26 season without any trophies. Currently, the Blues sit ninth in the Premier League standings and are also in danger of missing out on European football next season.

(With input from Reuters)

Published on May 17, 2026