Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola are key candidates on Chelsea’s manager shortlist, although sources have indicated to ESPN that there is currently no clear favorite among the contenders.
According to insiders, the Chelsea management is looking to appoint a coach with more experience than their last two hires. However, they are still considering various options and no single candidate has emerged as a preferred choice among the club’s five sporting directors and two owners.
Following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior in April—just four months after he took on a 5½-year contract—Chelsea has been in search of a new head coach. Calum McFarlane has been appointed as interim manager until the season concludes. Notably, McFarlane had previously filled this role after Enzo Maresca left in January, prior to Rosenior’s arrival.
Alonso, 44, has been without a club since his departure from Real Madrid in January, a result of losing favor at the Bernabéu. He took charge of Madrid last summer after guiding Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season, following a successful playing career at the club where he won a LaLiga title and the Champions League.
Iraola, 43, announced in April that he plans to leave Bournemouth upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season. He has led the team since taking over from Gary O’Neil in June 2023 and, like Alonso, is expected to attract interest from clubs in the Premier League and overseas this summer.
In a statement regarding Rosenior’s departure on April 22, Chelsea noted their intention to “undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.”
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Since BlueCo’s takeover in 2022, Chelsea has appointed four permanent managers, with Maresca’s tenure of 18 months being the most stable. Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Rosenior all had less than a year at the helm.
With their recent drop in form, Chelsea faces a challenging path to secure European football for the next season. They currently sit 10 points behind Bournemouth, who occupy the final automatic Champions League spot, and trail seventh-placed Brighton by four points, who would qualify for the Conference League if the season ended today.