Xabi Alonso Agrees 4-Year Chelsea Deal After FA Cup Final Loss
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 16
Xabi Alonso Agrees 4-Year Chelsea Deal After FA Cup Final Loss
9 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 16
Xabi Alonso has reached total agreement to become Chelsea’s new permanent manager, with a four-year contract being finalized and an announcement expected soon.
The 44-year-old visited London early last week, accepted Chelsea’s offer and had been the club’s top target throughout the recruitment process after Liam Rosenior was sacked on April 23.
Chelsea moved after a turbulent season: Rosenior lasted less than four months, interim boss Calum McFarlane then took the side to the FA Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Manchester City at Wembley.
Alonso has been out of work since Real Madrid sacked him in January, seven months into a three-year deal, after he previously led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in an unbeaten 2023-24 domestic campaign.
His appointment as manager rather than head coach points to a broader remit at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea try to stabilize an expensive but inconsistent squad before the summer window.
Can Xabi Alonso fix Chelsea's broken £2 billion project, or is he destined to be another casualty of chaotic ownership?
Will Alonso’s genius overcome a squad that past managers claim lacks both experience and basic football understanding?