Chelsea are on the brink of naming Xabi Alonso as their next manager, with an announcement potentially coming as early as Sunday following a significant acceleration in talks with the former Real Madrid boss. Liverpool legend Alonso has been lured to Stamford Bridge ahead of other serious candidates including Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva.
Oliver Glasner was also in the running, but all have been edged out by Alonso. It would represent a tremendous coup for Chelsea, as the former Bayer Leverkusen chief remains widely regarded as one of the finest managers in European football. Remarkably, he will become the sixth permanent manager of the Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly era, succeeding Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
Alonso has been in intensive discussions after Chelsea sounded out a number of candidates, though it swiftly became apparent he was their outright first choice.
The appointment signals a departure from the club’s preference for younger managers, with Alonso’s high-profile status perhaps indicating a shift in the ownership’s strategy. Chelsea supporters have been vocal in their discontent, staging a protest of 200 strong along Wembley Way to air their grievances against the current regime.
Maresca was dismissed just months after guiding the club to European glory in the Champions League and the Club World Cup. Heavy investment in young players on lengthy contracts has simply failed to deliver results this season.
These developments regarding Alonso follow Chelsea’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City. The move to appoint Alonso highlights Chelsea’s resolve to return to silverware contention following a torrid campaign that culminated in Rosenior’s dismissal after a dreadful run of results.
The club now face the daunting prospect of missing out on Champions League football altogether and may even find themselves without European football of any kind next season.
Yet that has not prevented them from securing Alonso’s signature in a bid to reclaim their place amongst Europe’s elite.
