Xabi Alonso Emerges as Strong Contender for Chelsea Manager Position
Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso has emerged as the ‘early preferred choice’ to become the next manager of Chelsea, according to recent reports. The London-based club is currently in search of a permanent manager after sacking Liam Rosenior last month. Rosenior had only been in charge for 106 days following Enzo Maresca’s departure earlier this year, but his tenure ended abruptly after a series of poor results.
Candidates and Challenges
Among the early candidates for the managerial role at Stamford Bridge were Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva. However, reports suggest that Alonso, the former Real Madrid manager, is now being seriously considered by the club. Some decision-makers at Chelsea are reportedly favoring Alonso, who is 44 years old.
Alonso’s managerial career took off with Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the German side to a remarkable Bundesliga title in 2024. His success at Leverkusen earned him a move to Real Madrid, where he spent five years as a player and won La Liga and the Champions League. However, his time as a manager at the Bernabeu was short-lived, as he left after just seven months by mutual consent.
A New Chapter in Management
According to Fabrizio Romano, Alonso is “ready” to resume his managerial career after leaving Real Madrid. It is claimed that the Spain legend is open to opportunities across Europe if he can find the right project. However, whether he would be willing to take over at Chelsea remains uncertain, given his strong ties to Liverpool, where he played for five years and won the Champions League.
Another challenge for Chelsea is that Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Alonso as pressure mounts on under-fire manager Arne Slot. The Dutchman has struggled this season, and his side faced criticism after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday.
Fan Reactions and Future Prospects
Reports indicate that Liverpool are likely to back Slot and give him more time to turn things around. However, a significant portion of fans want the Dutchman gone and would welcome the return of club legend Alonso. Joe Cole, a former Liverpool player, expressed his thoughts on the situation, stating that Alonso would “light up” Anfield.
“People have said that Jurgen Klopp won Arne Slot the league last season, but it was Slot’s team,” Cole told TNT Sports. “There have been circumstances, some of it tragic, then they’ve had issues with the new signings. Alexander Isak started poorly, Florian Wirtz hasn’t settled, Hugo Ekitike has been injured, and we’ve seen the difference between Mohamed Salah this and last season.”
A Complex Situation
Cole added that while there are many factors contributing to the current challenges, one thing remains clear: Alonso is available. “That’s the one thing that’s always hanging there, and he might not be available again. We saw what he did at Bayer Leverkusen. It didn’t work out at Real Madrid, but, of course, Arne Slot should stay. Alonso is there, and this place would light up again with him in the hotseat.”
Despite their struggles this season, Liverpool remain six places and ten points above a Chelsea side that suffered six straight league defeats before the Anfield stalemate. Chelsea will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final next weekend, while Liverpool visit top-four rivals Aston Villa.
Final Thoughts
While the future of both clubs remains uncertain, the possibility of Xabi Alonso taking on a new challenge at Chelsea continues to generate interest. As the football world watches closely, the decisions made by both Liverpool and Chelsea could shape the landscape of the Premier League for years to come.
