Xabi Alonso set to take charge at Chelsea after agreeing four-year deal

Chelsea have reached an agreement with Xabi Alonso to become their new head coach on a four-year contract, according to a report by Sky Sports on Saturday.

The announcement comes on the same day the London club suffered a 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City, capping a difficult season that has seen them drop to ninth in the Premier League and leave their prospects of European football next term hanging by a thread.

The 44-year-old Spaniard had been on Chelsea's radar as they sought a permanent replacement for Liam Rosenior, who was dismissed in April after just three months in the role. Alonso arrives with a proven track record, having guided Bayer Leverkusen to a historic league and cup double in his debut season as a manager in 2023-24. His more recent spell at Real Madrid, however, ended abruptly after fewer than eight months, with the Spanish giants parting ways with him in January.

Should the appointment be confirmed, Alonso would become the fifth permanent head coach appointed under Chelsea's BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Rosenior in the role.

The club will be hoping the former midfielder can arrest a sharp decline and restore Chelsea to the upper reaches of the Premier League, as well as back into European competition.

SportsLigue