It looks all but confirmed that Xabi Alonso is the frontrunner for the Chelsea job as the Blues look to bring in the former Real Madrid boss to Stamford Bridge
Real Madrid's Spanish coach Xabi Alonso reacts during the Spanish Super Cup final football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah on January 11, 2026. Real Madrid appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as new coach on January 12, 2026 after coach Xabi Alonso has left the club by mutual consent, a day after the team lost the Spanish Super Cup final against rivals Barcelona, AFP reports. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso has emerged as one of the top targets for the Chelsea job(Image: FADEL SENNA, AFP via Getty Images)
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Heavily-linked coach Xabi Alonso has emerged as the odds-on favourite to become the latest Chelsea boss under Todd Boehly's control as the American owner looks to go in a different direction at the club.
The bookies have all priced the former Real Madrid boss as the next man to lead the Blues with BetVictor, Betfred and William Hill all offering 2/5 odds on the Spaniard to take on the role at Stamford Bridge. You can also find more betting offers at the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers.
Betfred's Robert Ford said: “After receiving significant backing overnight, Xabi Alonso is now the 2/5 odds-on favourite to be the next permanent manager of Chelsea.
“Alonso comes into his new price from 7/4 after it was reported that he’s open to taking the job at Stamford Bridge. Outgoing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was the leader of the market at the back end of last week at 6/4, before drifting out to 7/2 yesterday and now he’s out at 4/1 and sits second in the odds.
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“The leading quartet includes Fulham boss Marco Silva at 8/1 and former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis at 11/1, but Alonso is in pole position where he has a 71.4% implied probability of getting the job.”
The potential appointment of the Bundesliga winner with Bayer Leverkusen would be a huge shift in philosophy at the club who have often mirrored club's such as Brighton & Hove Albion in developing youth players and selling for a profit. It has not brought much success, however, on the pitch with minimal returns in silverware to what the club were used to during Roman Abramovich's reign as owner.
The permanent appointments of Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior have all verge on the basis of developing youth players but some - such as Potter - have come out to criticise the club's process and execution of the proposed plan with huge squads and lack of strategy.
A shift in this direction will return them to the days of Thomas Tuchel, Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho who have all won various pieces of silverware and are renowned winners in the game.
Next Chelsea Manager Odds
Xabi Alonso - 2/5
Andoni Iraola - 4/1
Marco Silva - 8/1
Filipe Luis - 11/1
Cesc Fabregas - 16/1
Oliver Glasner - 16/1
Frank Lampard - 20/1
Jose Mourinho - 20/1
Xavi Hernandez - 20/1
Calum McFarlane - 25/1
Diego Simeone - 25/1
Eddie Howe - 25/1
Gary O'Neil - 25/1
Julian Nagelsmann - 25/1
Luis Enrique - 25/1
BAR - 33/1
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