‘One of the biggest clubs in the world’

Categories: Soccer

May 17, 2026

Xabi Alonso called Chelsea ‘one of the biggest clubs in world football’ after the former Real Madrid manager agreed to take charge at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old has signed a four-year deal to be Chelsea boss and will take charge on 1 July.

The former Real and Bayer Leverkusen manager becomes the fifth permanent appointment under Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.

It ⁠marks a return to English football ⁠for Alonso, who made 210 appearances for Liverpool as a player before leaving for ⁠Real in 2009 and later ending his playing career ⁠with Bayern Munich in ‌2017.

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Manager of the Men’s Team.

The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Welcome to Chelsea, Xabi!

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 17, 2026

“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 in a statement.

“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 honour to lead ‌it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning ‌trophies.”

Alonso has been out of work since his ultimately brief Real Madrid tenure came to an end in January.

Alonso built his reputation during a hugely successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen.

2.20 – Best points-per-game by managers in Europe’s big-five leagues since 2022-23 (min. 100 games):

2.34 Luis Enrique
2.25 Carlo Ancelotti
2.20 Xabi Alonso

Blue. pic.twitter.com/MKHBg80eEL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 16, 2026

Under Alonso’s leadership, Leverkusen dethroned Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga in 2023-24. Die Werkself won their first Bundesliga title without losing a game and also lifted the DFB-Pokal title to complete a double.

Alonso’s Leverkusen did not lose a game in that campaign until the Europa League final, in which they slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta.

Leverkusen then won the DFL-Supercup the following season before finishing second behind Bayern in the Bundesliga, with Alonso then saying farewell as he headed for Madrid.

But the reunion with Los Blancos proved an unsuccessful one, with Alonso removed following defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final.

Chelsea are ninth in the Premier League and lost Saturday’s FA Cup final to Manchester City.