Chelsea has officially announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager.
The 44-year-old coach has signed a four-year deal with the west London club and will take charge starting July 1, following the conclusion of the current season.
Alonso had been without a managerial position since being dismissed from Real Madrid in January, where he served just six months.
“Chelsea is one of the premier clubs in world football, and I am immensely proud to become its manager,” Alonso expressed in a statement.
“My discussions with the ownership and sporting leadership showed that we are aligned in our ambitions. We aim to assemble a team that consistently competes at the highest level and contends for trophies.”
This season has been challenging for Chelsea, as they recently suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The team has faced turmoil, leading to the departures of both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, with Rosenior being let go just 106 days into his contract.
While Chelsea had previously considered Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham‘s Marco Silva for the managerial position, they ultimately chose Alonso as their top target and initiated talks with him in recent days.
“There is significant talent within the squad and immense potential at this club, and I am honored to take the helm,” Alonso added.
“Our immediate focus will be on hard work, cultivating the right culture, and winning trophies.”
Alonso has established himself as one of Europe’s most promising young managers, having led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten title in the Bundesliga in 2024.
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The former midfielder for Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Madrid aims to guide Chelsea back into Champions League contention, as the club has missed out on qualification three times in the last four years.
“His hiring demonstrates the club’s confidence in his diverse experience, coaching skills, leadership qualities, character, and integrity, all crucial to the decision to appoint him for the next chapter of Chelsea’s journey,” the club stated.
“Chelsea Football Club looks forward to this new phase alongside Xabi, united in our resolve to achieve success at Stamford Bridge, a hallmark of the club’s past and its future.”
Report contributed by Mark Ogden of ESPN.