Chelsea Football Club has announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the club's new head coach. The Spanish tactician has signed a four-year deal starting July 1. This marks the fifth managerial change under BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca, and Liam Rosenior.
"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am immensely proud to become the head coach of this great club," Alonso said in the announcement on Sunday.
The Spanish coach has held discussions with the ownership group and football leadership. "Through these talks, it became clear that we share the same ambition: to build a team capable of consistently competing at the highest level and winning trophies. There is immense talent in this squad, and the club has enormous potential — it is an honor to lead them. Now, my priority is to work hard, build the right culture, and win," Alonso added.
Alonso's return to English football marks a new chapter in his career. He made 210 appearances for Liverpool before moving to Real Madrid in 2009 and ending his playing career at Bayern Munich in 2017. He then achieved success as a head coach at Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, where he became known for a coherent attacking style.
Chelsea's past season was challenging. The team slipped to ninth place in the Premier League table and faced a difficult fight for European qualification. They also lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City on Saturday. Alonso's appointment is expected to bring stability and restore the club's top-tier status.
The club stated: "Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the head coach of the men's first team."
