Alonso set to take over in the Chelsea hotseat

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Updated / Saturday, 16 May 2026 18:39 Xabi Alonso is close to taking the hotseat at Stamford Bridge Chelsea are close to appointing Xabi Alonso as their new head coach with an announcement possible before Tuesday's game against Tottenham. The former Real Madrid manager has emerged in the last few days as the leading candidate to replace Liam Rosenior and though a number of other coaches have been under consideration, things have moved quickly and an agreement in principle is now in place.

The club had intended to take their time over the appointment of their next coach and no decision had been expected before the end of the season. However, with the appointment of an elite coach of sufficient calibre and standing in the game a priority, the club have moved quickly to secure a manager that won the Champions League twice as a player as well as leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga-winning season in his first campaign as a coach.

After Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior and Calum McFarlane (twice interim), Alonso will be Chelsea's fourth manager of 2026. More stories on Read Next