Chelsea contact Iraola to replace Rosenior as head coach this summer | OneFootball

Chelsea have made initial contact with Andoni Iraola’s representatives as they step up their search for a new head coach to take the reins in the Stamford Bridge dugout (h/t Football London).

Chelsea 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.

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

Behind the scenes, Chelsea’s sporting executives are already active.

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 is understood to have 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.

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

This is a squad assembled at vast expense, one that 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 knockouts and dressing-room egos.

Xabi Alonso, with his rapid rise and silverware pedigree, or Francesco Farioli, whose tactical innovation is gaining continental recognition, would represent bolder, more fitting appointments.

For a club of Chelsea’s scale, potential alone should not be enough.