Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager, the club announced Sunday.
The Spaniard signed a four-year contract with the Blues, and will officially take over on July 1.
The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss was Chelsea’s top target as Liam Rosenior’s permanent successor.
Interim head coach Calum McFarlane was in charge of the Blues’ FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club,” Alonso said.
“From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition.
We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.
“There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honor to lead it.
Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.” Chelsea also reportedly contacted the representatives of outgoing Bournemouth tactician Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva, whose contract expires in June, when they stepped up their managerial search toward the end of April.
Oliver Glasner, who will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, was also under consideration, according to BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel.
Alonso, 44, became one of the most sought-after coaches in world football when he guided Bayer Leverkusen to silverware in the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2024 during the first unbeaten domestic campaign in German soccer.
He also led his side to the Europa League final.
The ex-midfielder took over Real Madrid in June 2025, but he was dismissed in January.
Los Blancos now appear to be close to rehiring veteran Jose Mourinho after Alonso’s successor, Alvaro Arbeloa, failed to turn around the star-studded team’s fortunes.
Alonso started his playing career with Real Sociedad before winning many major honors across his spells with Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, including the Champions League twice.
He also won the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 with Spain.
Alonso is the sixth permanent manager to take the reins at Stamford Bridge in the past four years.
Chelsea have cycled through Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca, and Rosenior in recent years as they desperately try to return to the top of English football.
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