Chelsea have hired the former Real Madrid boos Xabi Alonso as their new head coach following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior.
Alonso takes over at Stamford Bridge after a short spell at Real Madrid. He started the job in June 2025 but left in January 2026. During his time there, he managed 34 games, won 24, drew 4, and lost 6.
Before Real Madrid, Alonso built a great reputation at Bayer Leverkusen. He joined in October 2022 and led the team until May 2025. In 140 games, he recorded 88 wins, 33 draws, and 19 losses.
He guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023/24 the club’s first league win ever. His team also lifted the DFB Pokal that season and achieved a historic unbeaten domestic double.
Alonso started his coaching journey with Real Sociedad B from 2019 to 2022. He managed 98 games there and gained valuable experience with the youth team. Overall in his coaching career so far, he has handled 272 matches with 152 wins, a solid win percentage around 56%.075fe0
Chelsea Move Fast
Chelsea waited for the FA Cup final to end before they made the announcement. The club sees Alonso as the perfect fit because he won the Champions League twice as a player and proved himself as a top coach. Reports say the announcement could come as soon as Monday.
Alonso will now join Chelsea’s summer transfer plans. The Blues want to bring in experienced, ready-made players to strengthen the squad. He will play a key role in those signings, just like previous managers.
This appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Chelsea. Fans hope Alonso brings his winning tactics and leadership to turn the team into contenders again. With his proven record of developing teams and delivering titles, he arrives with high expectations at Stamford Bridge.