Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is reportedly ‘open’ to the concept of becoming Chelsea manager.
Chelsea’s hunt for a brand new head coach is now almost a month old, with club’s sporting leadership group starting their search within the immediate aftermath of Liam Rosenior’s dismissal.
Rosenior had enjoyed a promising begin to life within the Chelsea dugout but results and performances took a turn for the more severe from early February – and a miserable run of 5 straight league defeats without scoring a single goal proved the ultimate straw.
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 yr’s FA Cup final.
But a heavy 3-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest served as a stark reminder of Chelsea’s desperate situation within the league – and Stamford Bridge bosses are wanting to secure a deal for Rosenior’s everlasting successor sooner quite than later.
Since Rosenior’s sacking, a number of high-profile names have been linked with the vacant position, including the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andoni Iraola, with the latter confirming that this season might be his last at Bournemouth.
It’s understood Xavi is viewed as probably the most realistic option of the three and up to date reports indicated the ex-Barcelona boss was perceptive to the potential of taking on the reins in west London.
In keeping with 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’.
Nevertheless, with the recruitment process ongoing, the report suggests Chelsea wish to avoid making a knee-jerk decisions and no final call has been made regarding a possible appointment at this stage.
Iraola is alleged to stay a ‘strong contender’ for the role, while Fulham head coach Marco Silva, former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner are also into consideration.
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Alonso won himself admirers across European football and established himself as one of the crucial highly sought-after young managers in the sport along with his extraordinary work answerable for Leverkusen, his first post in senior management.
After taking on from Gerardo Seoan, Alonso oversaw an unprecedented undefeated domestic double in 2023/24, steering the club to its first ever Bundesliga title and a primary DFB-Pokal in three many years.
The 44-year-old’s remarkable success in Germany earned him a return to Real Madrid, where he had been a fan favourite as a player, but he was sacked after only seven months in charge on the Bernabeu.
The choice to part ways with Alonso got here after Madrid had suffered defeat to Barcelona within the Spanish Super Cup final, with Hansi Flick’s men also holding a four-point lead at the highest of La Liga on the time.
Alonso, who has been out of a job since is dismissal in January, has also been tipped as a possible solution at Liverpool, where Arne Slot finds himself under intense pressure after an immensely disappointing title defence within the Premier League.
‘After all there’s a bond with my former club, but for now that is my place,’ Alonso said of a possible reunion with Liverpool just weeks before his departure on the Bernabeu.
‘In future, you never know what might occur.’
Talking to TNT Sports this week, Joe Cole, who after all represented each Chelsea and Liverpool, suggested Alonso would ‘light up’ Anfield should he return to Merseyside – 17 years after he left as a player.
‘Liverpool normally stick by their manager,’ Cole explained.
‘People have said that Jurgen Klopp won Arne Slot the league last season, nevertheless it was Slot’s team
‘There have been circumstances, a few of it tragic, then they’ve had issues with the brand new signings. Alexander Isak began poorly, Florian Wirtz hasn’t settled, Hugo Ekitike has been injured, and we’ve seen the difference between Mohamed Salah this and last season.
‘There’s been so many aspects, but I at all times come back to that proven fact that Xabi Alonso is out there.
‘That’s the one thing that’s at all times hanging there, and he may not be available again. We saw what he did at Bayer Leverkusen.
‘It didn’t work out at Real Madrid, but, after all, Arne Slot should stay. Alonso is there, and this place would light up again with him in the new seat.’
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