Xabi Alonso explained his decision to coach Chelsea instead of Liverpool, after the club dismissed Arne Slot after a disappointing season, leading to Andoni Iraola's appointment as head coach
21:30, 13 Jul 2026
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Xabi Alonso spoke on his decision to go with Chelsea rather than Liverpool after his spell with Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso has spoken out about his decision to choose Chelsea over Liverpool.
Toward the end of the last season, it became increasingly clear that Liverpool would be replacing Arne Slot, with Alonso's name being thrown around as one of the potential head coaches to replace the Dutchman. Once Slot was dismissed, the club pivoted to Andoni Iraola as its next boss at Anfield.
Now, Alonso has spoken out about his intention to lead Chelsea and his expectations for the club after signing on as head coach, rather than what many thought would happen. Speaking during an introductory interview at Stamford Bridge, Alonso explained why he opted to join Chelsea rather than Liverpool.
Notably, the 44-year-old did not answer a question about whether his former club had reached out to him before he ultimately decided to coach Chelsea.
"Well it's about timings and today I'm here, it's the first day in Stamford Bridge, first [press] conference with you gentlemen, so I'm looking forward to this challenge," he began. "It's a big challenge but I like football, Chelsea's one of the biggest clubs and I'm looking forward to having success here."
Though many pegged him as Liverpool's coach at some point, Alonso has said in the past that he believes fellow Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard should have the opportunity to lead the squad before he does.
Manager Xabi Alonso of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on July 13, 2026 in London, United Kingdom
Alonso is Chelsea's new manager after a brief spell with Real Madrid(Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Speaking with Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, Alonso stated that it would only be natural for Gerrard to be at the helm before him.
"Once he told me he would love to manage in Anfield but that the natural way of things would be for Steven Gerrard to go there first, and the return of the prodigal son seems far-fetched now," Balague wrote on X in the past.
"And we know that in this game, two plus two is not always four. So the very real possibility of Xabi Alonso managing Chelsea comes in that context.
"Very rarely a manager chooses in football (Pep getting a national side at some point will happen, a dream of his, but Pep is Pep), football chooses for you, it is the game that imposes the timing."
With Alonso choosing Chelsea, Liverpool had been told that Iraola was the better choice for the club than Alonso. Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James said as much in an interview with BetVictor.
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"As a Liverpool supporter, there's always a romantic side to wanting a former player, who admittedly has been successful, to return and succeed as manager. But ultimately, you want the best manager, not necessarily the most popular one," he told the outlet.
"There was certainly an opportunity to go with the popular choice in Xabi Alonso, and while time will tell, it seems to me that Iraola appears to be the better option."
With Slot dismissed, James believed that it gives Iraola and the club a fresh start with lowered expectations compared to if Slot remained. "Had Slot stayed, there would have been enormous pressure next season to return Liverpool to their previous standards and that could have been too much for him. That pressure won't be there for Iraola," he said.