Latest: Chelsea have in person meeting with second choice candidate as manager

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the Chelsea News

·11. Mai 2026

Latest: Chelsea have in person meeting with second choice candidate as manager

Chelsea have met with Andoni Iraola – but Xabi Alonso it still waiting in the wings, and it could go either way.

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Chelsea have an FA Cup final to worry about this weekend – but the Blues are also focused on appointing a new manager.

There’s been a lot of talk about Xabi Alonso today, but now the word from the Sun is that the first significant move has been towards appointing Andoni Iraola.

Chelsea representatives have met with the Basque, who will leave Bournemouth this summer. Further encouragement comes in the form of news that Iraola has already turned down two different approaches from Crystal Palace.

Iraola and Alonso face off for Blues job

Alonso is currently out of a job – so there should be no delay in meeting him in person too, should he express interest in the job and should talks get beyond the initial phase.

Chelsea want to take their time and get the right man – but it smells like Alonso is their first choice, and were he to be available there would be no need to mess around dealing with lower priority candidates.

The delay may come from his end, as he waits to see what other offers might come up.