Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has supported Chelsea’s bold decision to appoint Xabi Alonso as the new boss of the West London club. The former defender, who played alongside the Spaniard at Anfield, feels the call is a defining intervention after a deeply disappointing campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea announced Alonso’s signing on May 17, with the 44-year-old Spaniard agreeing a four-year contract that begins on July 1, 2026. The Blues suffered a tough season, falling to ninth in the Premier League and a long-shot fight to reach European competition after losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City.
However, Carragher feels that even the mention of the Spaniard’s name may be sufficient to convince Chelsea’s star names to pledge their future to the project:
“It’s no doubt it’s a fantastic appointment from Chelsea’s point of view, when you consider how poor it’s been for them this season. I do believe that Chelsea have five or six really top players, and there was murmuring that they were starting to think about their future, but I think with the appointment of Xabi Alonso, I think that could keep those players at the club.”
It is significant that Carragher has thrown his weight behind the move, given his close personal relationship with Alonso and the admission he has been in touch to wish his former team-mate well in his new job.
Xabi Alonso Inherits a Bloated Squad at Chelsea
The Spaniard’s appointment is the fifth permanent managerial change since the consortium took over BlueCo in 2022. Chelsea have spent £1.8bn on signings since BlueCo took charge, but there has been little sign of consistent progress throughout the experiment.
Alonso’s tactical signature is a dominant double pivot supported by inverted wingers, widely regarded as a perfect fit for the current Chelsea personnel. As in Leverkusen, Alonso inherits a world-class engine room in Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, capable of dictating the tempo. According to reports, the Spaniard has also told the hierarchy to go after Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe this summer, but this seems rather unlikely.
Chelsea owners will be hoping Alonso can quickly resolve the disconnect between the dressing room, dugout and the supporters. The Blues will begin their Premier League campaign again in August 2026, and the new manager will have to restore the club’s credibility on a number of fronts.