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Breaking: Former Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso reaches agreement to coach Chelsea
TL;DR
Xabi Alonso has reached an agreement to become Chelsea's new head coach, signing a four-year contract. The announcement is expected soon after Alonso's visit to London last week.
Key points
- Xabi Alonso has agreed to become Chelsea's head coach.
- He signed a four-year contract after visiting London.
- Alonso was Chelsea's top target for the managerial position.
Mentioned in this story
Xabi AlonsoLiam RoseniorAndoni Iraola
Chelsea FCBayern MunichReal MadridBayer Leverkusen
An agreement has been completed for Xabi Alonso to become the new Chelsea manager.
Alonso, 44, visited London early last week and has accepted the opportunity, with a four-year contract now finalised and an announcement expected imminently.
Alonso was the club’s top target throughout, and the former Real Madrid head coach wanted the Stamford Bridge move.
The Athletic reported on Monday that Chelsea were exploring a deal to appoint Alonso as a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, with outgoing Bournemouth head coach also a strong contender. Alonso had an extremely successful coaching tenure at , where he won the Bundesliga title in 2023/24. Alonso moved on to a volatile situation at Real Madrid for 2025/26. where he could not connected with a high maintenance locker room, which lacked discipline and rejected Alonso’s rigid expectations. Alonso and Real Madrid parted ways just months after his arrival. Now, Alonso will get a fresh start in London. *If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on , , , or any leading podcast distributor…*
Q&A
What contract has Xabi Alonso signed with Chelsea FC?
Xabi Alonso has signed a four-year contract to become the head coach of Chelsea FC.
Why did Chelsea choose Xabi Alonso as their new manager?
Chelsea targeted Xabi Alonso due to his successful coaching tenure at Bayer Leverkusen and his desire to manage the club.
What challenges did Xabi Alonso face at Real Madrid before joining Chelsea?
At Real Madrid, Alonso struggled with a high-maintenance locker room that rejected his rigid expectations, leading to a quick departure.
