Xabi Alonso stance on managing Chelsea amid Liverpool links
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Chelsea are exploring a possible deal for Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty) Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is reportedly ‘open’ to the idea of becoming Chelsea manager. Chelsea’s hunt for a new head coach is now almost a month old, with club’s hierarchy beginning their search in the immediate aftermath of Liam Rosenior’s dismissal.
Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane picked up the pieces from Rosenior’s turbulent 107-day reign and oversaw a 1-0 victory over Leeds to steer Chelsea into this year’s FA Cup final. The Spanish icon parted ways with Madrid after only seven months (Picture: Getty) Leverkusen stormed to their first Bundesliga title with Alonso at the helm in 2024 (Picture: Getty) According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Xavi’s fellow countryman Alonso is similarly ‘open’ to the prospect of managing Chelsea and a deal for the ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder is being actively ‘explored’.
Alonso spent five years with Chelsea’s rivals Liverpool as a player (Picture: Getty) The decision to part ways with Alonso came after Madrid had suffered defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, with Hansi Flick’s men also holding a four-point lead at the top of La Liga at the time. Alonso, who has been out of a job since is dismissal in January, has also been tipped as a potential solution at Liverpool, where Arne Slot finds himself under intense pressure after an immensely disappointing title defence in the Premier League. ‘Of course there is a bond with my former club, but for now this is my place,’ Alonso said of a potential reunion with Liverpool just weeks before his departure at the Bernabeu. ‘In future, you never know what might happen.’ Alonso would ‘light up’ Anfield, according to Cole (Picture: Getty) Talking to TNT Sports this week, Joe Cole, who of course represented both Chelsea and Liverpool, suggested Alonso would ‘light up’ Anfield should he return to Merseyside – 17 years after he left as a player. ‘Liverpool usually stick by their manager,’ Cole explained. ‘People have said that Jurgen Klopp won Arne Slot the league last season, but it was Slot’s team ‘There have been circumstances, some of it tragic, then they’ve had issues with the new signings.