Updated: 15 May 2026 15:51 BST |
4 min read
Chelsea’s players have given their blessing to the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their next head coach, according to The Guardian.
The Blues are believed to be considering a number of managers as they look to name a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, who was sacked in April after just 106 days in charge.
Chelsea, who are currently being overseen by interim boss Calum McFarlane, are understood to be monitoring Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Fulham’s Marco Silva and former Flamengo head coach Filipe Luis, according to various sources.
However, The Guardian understands that Alonso is currently the frontrunner for the Chelsea post, with The Athletic having revealed earlier in the week that the club were exploring a deal to bring the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge.
And The Guardian are reporting that the Chelsea dressing room have now thrown their weight behind the plan to appoint Alonso, who is a free agent having been sacked by Real Madrid in January.
The stance of the Chelsea players carries significant weight, with The Athletic claiming in April that several squad members were unhappy with the club’s decision to sack Enzo Maresca in January.
Maresca was relieved of his duties at the start of the year after falling out with Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, with Rosenior subsequently named as the Italian’s replacement.
The Chelsea squad are hoping the club will appoint a new manager who will quickly command the respect of the dressing room and keep egos in check, according to The Guardian.
And Alonso is somebody who appears to meet that criteria, having gone on to become one of the most promising young managers in the world following a trophy-laden playing career.
The 44-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation following spells with Liverpool, Real and Bayern Munich, has won plenty of admirers as a coach, having guided Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2023-24.
While Chelsea continue to weigh up their managerial options, the club are hoping to end a difficult season on a high by beating Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
The west Londoners are currently ninth in the Premier League table and 10 points behind Liverpool and Aston Villa in the qualification spots for next season’s Champions League.
Analysis: Alonso’s reputation intact despite Real Madrid sacking
Chelsea target Alonso is still regarded as one of the best young coaches in the world, despite having been sacked by La Liga giants Real after just eight months at the helm.
Owing to his remarkable work at Leverkusen, and the fact that Real have continued to struggle in his absence, Alonso’s reputation remains very much intact, hence why his potential appointment has been given the thumbs up by the Chelsea dressing room.
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