Xabi Alonso Appointed as Chelsea’s New Head Coach
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Xabi Alonso has been named Chelsea’s new head coach on a four-year contract, starting July 1.
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He became the fifth permanent manager under owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since 2022.
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The club is unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League and may miss European competition entirely.
Chelsea hired Xabi Alonso as its latest coach on a four-year deal on Sunday, marking his return to management after a difficult eight-month stint at Real Madrid.
Alonso will officially take charge on July 1, succeeding Liam Rosenior, who was fired last month. He will be the fifth permanent coach appointed by Chelsea’s American owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, since they acquired the club in 2022.
Alonso’s tenure at Madrid ended after eight months with his departure by mutual consent in January following disappointing results and reports of difficulties in managing the team. This affected his strong reputation built during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the team to a German title and an unbeaten domestic season in 2023-24.
Chelsea described Alonso as “one of the most respected figures in the modern game.”
“From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition,” Alonso said in a statement from Chelsea. “We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.”
Despite Alonso’s ambitions, Chelsea appears unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League and may miss out on European competition altogether. The club has already ensured a trophyless season after losing to Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, although it managed to win the Club World Cup last summer.
Following a tumultuous end to Rosenior’s time at the club, Chelsea’s ownership stated it would engage in “a process of self-reflection” before making its next coaching decision. This announcement comes amid growing concerns among supporters regarding the club’s trajectory and its significant financial challenges after years of heavy spending.
Since the 2022 purchase of Chelsea by a consortium led by Boehly, also part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and largely financed by private equity firm Clearlake Capital, the club has invested around $2.5 billion in new, primarily young players on lengthy contracts and accrued nearly $2 billion in debt, according to The Athletic.
Chelsea’s latest financial report indicated a record pre-tax loss of $350 million in the Premier League era.
Amid this backdrop, Alonso steps into his role at Chelsea, which he called “one of the biggest clubs in world football.”
“There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club, and it will be my great honor to lead it,” he stated. “Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture, and winning trophies.”