Chelsea appoint former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso as new manager - 'Huge potential at this football club'

Alonso joins Chelsea on a four-year deal and will begin at Stamford Bridge on July 1.

"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 on his announcement.

"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."

Former Spain international Alonso was confirmed as Chelsea's new boss following their loss to Manchester City in Saturday's Emirates FA Cup final.

Chelsea have had a turbulent season, as they parted company with Enzo Maresca in January, with his replacement, Liam Rosenior, lasting just three months in the job and leaving in April.

Alonso had been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January, having departed by mutual consent just seven months into his debut season in the Spanish capital.

Before joining Real Madrid in 2025, Alonso was seen as one of the most highly regarded young managers in European football after the success he had in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.

Alonso led Leverkusen to the first Bundesliga title in the club's history - largely due to the attacking, free-flowing style of football he implemented - as they went unbeaten the whole league season.

During his time at the club, Leverkusen also reached the final of the UEFA Europa League - losing 3-0 to Atalanta - and won the German cup and DFL-Supercup.

Chelsea said in a statement that Alonso's appointment, "reflects the club’s belief in his broad set of experiences, coaching quality and game model, leadership attributes, character and integrity, which were key to the decision to ask him to help lead the next phase of Chelsea’s journey.

"He is regarded not only as an outstanding football coach, but also as a proven leader and partner across a number of areas essential to the demands of driving the team."

Alonso joined Real Madrid, returning to the club where he had won both the league title and the UEFA Champions League as a player, as the manager last summer, but things quickly unravelled.

In December, he and his players were booed off after a sobering 2-0 home defeat by Celta Vigo, a result that followed an earlier 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid and damaging UEFA Champions League setbacks against Liverpool and Manchester City.

Reports in Spain and abroad suggested Alonso was also struggling to command the full backing of the dressing room, claims that he repeatedly denied.

Tensions were evident as early as September, when Vinicius Junior reacted angrily to being substituted during a win over Espanyol after being omitted from two starting line-ups.

The friction resurfaced a month later when the Brazilian was again withdrawn during an 'El Clasico' meeting with Barcelona.

Now, Alonso has the job of bringing success back to Chelsea after a tumultuous 2025/26 campaign.

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