Xabi Alonso will be Chelsea’s next manager after the club confirmed the appointment of the Spanish boss on a four-year deal, and Stamford Bridge icon Frank Leboeuf is utterly delighted.
Sunday morning Chelsea confirm the appointment of Alonso, with the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid gaffer set to officially start work as manager on July 1. He is BlueCo’s fifth managerial pick.
DISCUSS: Xabi Alonso can finally make the BlueCo era a success 👀
It comes after Graham Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel, and was followed by Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior. All four coaches were named Chelsea’s head coach, but Alonso is ‘manager’.
There have been plenty of reports indicating that Chelsea’s hierarchy are set to give Alonso freedom and more power than any of his predecessors. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf is over the moon.
Frank Leboeuf backs Xabi Alonso to be a success at Chelsea
There are risks. Alonso is largely inexperienced as a manager, and his time at Real Madrid, despite 24 wins in his 34 games in charge, ended in disarray. Alonso is said to have fallen out with Madrid’s key stars.
Thibaut Courtois denied those reports, while Madrid gave Chelsea a glowing reference when it came to Alonso. Speaking on ESPN, Leboeuf has praised BlueCo for picking Alonso and backed him to thrive.
Real Madrid CF v Sevilla FC - LaLiga EA Sports
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
“I want to jump, I’m so happy, I’m so surprised, but I’m so happy. I’m a great fan of Xabi Alonso, I think he will be the right guy. He’s not only a coach, but he’s also the manager, which is a big step from the board.
“They changed their mind in their positioning to the coach and have given more responsibility to Xabi Alonso. We often say it is a young squad, a lack of experience. I think Chelsea will suit him.
“Hopefully it works because I want to see it work. With a four-year deal, he will get time, and hopefully, he can bring Chelsea back to being one of the best clubs in the world,” Leboeuf continued, on Alonso.
Alonso’s first words as Chelsea manager will remove any doubts
For now, Calum McFarlane will remain in interim charge with Chelsea playing host to Tottenham on Tuesday night before travelling north to take on Sunderland. Two key games to qualify for Europe.
Xabi Alonso’s first words as Chelsea manager!
What are you expecting from Alonso’s first season in charge?
From July 1, Alonso will be Chelsea’s manager. His first game will be a pre-season friendly in Australia against A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers, and his first words will only galvanise the fan base.
Speaking to Chelsea’s website, Alonso shared how there was a “clear alignment” between himself and the board. It is something that saw Enzo Maresca sacked, and those comments will certainly excite fans.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox