Chelsea are closing in on appointing Liam Rosenior's permanent successor, with Xabi Alonso emerging as the frontrunner while interim manager Calum McFarlane leads them into the FA Cup final
MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: Xabi Alonso, Manager of Real Madrid looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Real Betis Balompié at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 04, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso is seen as the standout candidate(Image: Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Chelsea hope to confirm Xabi Alonso as their new manager as soon as NEXT WEEK after stepping up their pursuit of the former Liverpool star. Alonso, 44, has been out of work since January, having been sacked by Real Madrid following a tumultuous seven-month spell in charge at the Bernabeu.
The Spaniard previously managed Bayer Leverkusen, where he oversaw a remarkable unbeaten season and ended Bayern Munich's 11-year stronghold on the Bundesliga title as well as winning the German cup.
After making checks on the likes of Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva, Chelsea believe that Alonso is the right man to succeed interim boss Calum McFarlane, who'll be in charge for Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea want to finalise Alonso's appointment within days of the final, and there's optimism that the ex-Madrid and Leverkusen manager may be willing to join. Alonso is viewed as the standout candidate to become Liam Rosenior's permanent successor, with the Blues looking for a new manager for the fifth time in four years.
The 44-year-old has also been linked with the Liverpool job which could become available if Arne Slot is sacked. However, Anfield chiefs are unlikely to make a change should they qualify for the Champions League.
The sight of Alonso in the Stamford Bridge dugout might sting for some Liverpool fans, although club legend Jamie Carragher would like him to succeed.
"If he does get the job, I'll probably want Chelsea to win a little bit more than I normally do with him being a former team-mate," Carragher told Sky Sports.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Real Madrid, embraces Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso has also been linked with former club Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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"We'll see if Xabi gets the job, and if he does really well next season. That may be a masterstroke next season by not listening to the pressure of the supporters and sticking with the manager (Slot) who's already won the Premier League."
As for McFarlane's verdict on Alonso, he said: "There's a lot of names linked with the job.
"It's not really my place to say who should get it, or who's a good manager, who's not a good manager. My job is to prepare the team for Saturday and that’s all I'll be focusing on."
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