Chelsea have struck a complete agreement with Xabi Alonso for the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager to become their next manager – with the news filtering through minutes after their FA Cup final loss at Wembley Stadium.
The Blues, temporarily managed by Calum McFarlane, were beaten 1-0 by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City after Antoine Semenyo’s sublime winner. Alonso is now set to sign a four-year contract which is currently being finalised with an announcement to follow.
Alonso was installed as Chelsea’s leading candidate last week, as revealed by Daily Mail Sport, ahead of Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner, Filipe Luis and Cesc Fabregas. We also reported how Chelsea’s players were personally excited by the prospect of Alonso coming in.
The 44-year-old will take up the role specifically as a manager, on July 1, rather than a head coach, suggesting that he will have a greater sway with the club’s hierarchy than his predecessors. McFarlane stays in charge until the end of the season.
The Liverpool icon’s last spell in management ended when Real sacked him in January. He had joined the La Liga giants after guiding Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title in 2023-24 while also finishing as runner-up in the Europa League with them.
Alonso had been linked with Liverpool, but that job is not currently vacant and the Anfield club are adamant they retain faith in Arne Slot ahead of this summer.
Chelsea have reached full agreement with Xabi Alonso for the former Liverpool star to become their next manager
Chelsea accelerated their talks over the last week, pushing to strike an agreement to tie down the Spaniard to a deal. They are understood to have promised him a meaningful say in their transfer business moving forward, which was one of the assurances sought by Alonso in negotiations.
Liam Rosenior left Chelsea in April after less than four months in charge, having overseen six successive league losses without scoring. That equalled a club record from 1912, with players accused of downing tools in a bid to get rid of Rosenior.
McFarlane took over as interim, helping them reach this FA Cup final. Winning would have guaranteed them Europa League football for next season. However, Chelsea will now need to rely on finishing high enough in the Premier League to get into Europe.
With two games to go – at home to Tottenham and away at Sunderland – they currently sit ninth. That is six points shy of Bournemouth in sixth and four off Brighton in fifth.
Alonso could now attend one or both of those matches. He has been in London for in-person talks over the last week. McFarlane could remain in temporary charge until the season’s end, even if Alonso is announced on Saturday night or Sunday as expected.
