Xabi Alonso named Chelsea head coach on four-year deal | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso has been appointed Chelsea head coach on a four-year contract, the club said in a statement on Sunday.

The 44-year-old Spaniard had been out of work since leaving Real Madrid, who dismissed him in January.

He will take over from Calum McFarlane, interim since the late-April sacking of Liam Rosenior. The former Strasbourg manager had himself arrived mid-season to replace Enzo Maresca.

Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to a Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2024, losing only once that season, in the Europa League final.

Chelsea's instability reflects a difficult campaign. They lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City 0-1 on Saturday and were swept aside by PSG in the Champions League last 16, 2-5 and 0-3.

They sit ninth in the Premier League with two matches remaining. A place in the Europa Conference League, or even the Europa League, remains possible, but the BlueCo-owned club, like Strasbourg, already know they will not play in the Champions League in 2026-27.

Source: L'Équipe