Chelsea has officially appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager. The Spaniard has signed a four-year contract and will take over the team on July 1st. Alonso, the former Real Madrid strategist, was the club’s first choice, and his appointment will be officially announced on Sunday, in time for him to lead the team in pre-season preparations.

The 44-year-old has been without a managerial position since January when he left Real Madrid just under eight months into a three-year contract. The news comes shortly after Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup final, where the team was led by interim manager Calum McFarlane.

Alonso’s arrival is expected to bring much-needed stability to Stamford Bridge after a turbulent season, during which the club was managed by two permanent managers—Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior—while McFarlane has already taken on the role of interim manager twice. He will lead the team in their final two Premier League matches. Alonso becomes the fifth permanent appointment since the BlueCo ownership era began.

Pride and Ambition: Alonso’s First Words

"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football, and it fills me with immense pride to become the manager of this great club," Alonso stated. "From my discussions with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear that we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of consistently competing at the highest level and fighting for trophies."

"There is great talent and enormous potential in this football club, and it will be a great honor to lead it. The focus now is on hard work, building a true culture, and winning trophies."

Interestingly, Alonso will carry the title of manager, not head coach, a move that recognizes his experience and the key role he will play in developing the club. "It's significant that Alonso will be the manager. This means he will have more authority, more influence, and more of a voice in all aspects of the club," explains Kaveh Solhekol, the chief correspondent for Sky Sports News.

From Leverkusen to Madrid: The Path to Stamford Bridge

Alonso's coaching career began after an impressive playing career that ended in 2017, during which he played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich and won the World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.

After leading Real Madrid's U14 squad, he spent three years at Real Sociedad's B team. His breakthrough came at Bayer Leverkusen, which he took over in November 2022 when the club was at the bottom of the Bundesliga. He led them to a sixth-place finish and the semi-finals of the Europa League.

In his first full season at BayArena (2023-24), Alonso made history. His Leverkusen, playing in a 3-4-3 formation, won the Bundesliga title for the first time in the club's history without a single defeat. They also set numerous records.