Chelsea contact Iraola to replace Rosenior as manager this summer | OneFootball

Chelsea have made initial contact with Andoni Iraola’s representatives as they step up their search for a new manager (h/t football.london).

The Blues are looking for a new manager following Liam Rosenior’s abysmal 106-day tenure that ended with his dismissal.

Interim boss Calum McFarlane is in charge for the final five matches of the season.

Chelsea are in no rush to make a permanent appointment, with a decision expected in the summer.

The club’s recruitment team have begun sounding out potential candidates, with Iraola among several names under consideration.

The Spaniard is set to leave Bournemouth at the end of the campaign, having indicated that he believes it is the right time to move on.

Initial contact between Chelsea and Iraola’s camp has been exploratory rather than advanced, with discussions centred around gauging his plans and availability.

The 43-year-old has enhanced his reputation during his time on the south coast, guiding Bournemouth to steady progress in the Premier League despite significant squad turnover.

Iraola has remained tight-lipped on links to the Chelsea job, insisting publicly that his focus remains on finishing the season strongly.

Chelsea must think big this summer

While Iraola’s profile aligns with Chelsea’s data-driven approach, there remains a compelling case for the club to aim higher.

The squad has been assembled at vast expense. It requires not just development but direction at the elite level.

Iraola’s work has been impressive, but he has not managed to reach or win at the very top of the game.

The Blues need a figure who has navigated title races, European knockout games and dressing-room egos.

Xabi Alonso or Francesco Farioli would represent bolder appointments. For a club of Chelsea’s scale, potential alone should not be enough.