Chelsea F.C. have officially announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the club’s new manager.
The Spaniard is set to take charge on July 1, 2026, after signing a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
In a statement posted on X, Chelsea said: “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. Welcome to Chelsea, Xabi.”
Reacting to the appointment, Alonso described Chelsea as one of the biggest clubs in world football and said he was proud to take on the role. He added that discussions with the club’s ownership and sporting leadership showed they shared the same ambition of building a team capable of competing consistently for major trophies.
Alonso also praised the quality within the squad and said his immediate focus would be on hard work, establishing the right culture and delivering success on the pitch.
Chelsea, who currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, had been searching for a new manager since the dismissal of Liam Rosenior in April after only three months in charge.
The former Real Madrid CF coach emerged as the club’s top choice, with Chelsea opting to give him the title of manager rather than head coach in recognition of his experience and broader responsibilities within the club’s structure.
Alonso had been without a managerial role since leaving Real Madrid in January, just seven months into the job. During his playing career, he won the UEFA Champions League twice and later guided Bayer 04 Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign in the 2023/24 season.
He becomes the fifth permanent managerial appointment under Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Rosenior.
