Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has reached an agreement in principle to become the next Chelsea head coach, a few months after being fired by Real Madrid
18:02, 16 May 2026Updated 18:07, 16 May 2026
Xabi Alonso during his time with Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso during his time with Real Madrid.(Image: Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Chelsea has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to hire Xabi Alonso this summer after deciding to give the Spaniard more power than recent head coaches have been afforded.
Alonso has been out of work since being fired by Real Madrid in January of this year. With few other top jobs around Europe available, he is said to be open to moving to the Premier League with Chelsea.
According to RMC Sport in France, Alonso and Chelsea have agreed a two-year contract in principle. Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was also an option, in addition to Fulham manager Marco Silva.
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Alonso has long been touted as a potential future Liverpool head coach, with Arne Slot under pressure to improve results and performances amid a difficult season.
On Friday, his Liverpool side lost a 19th game in all competitions this season, this time at Aston Villa. In his post-match press conference, the Dutchman insisted that a good summer will get the club back on track.
"I can understand at this moment in time that they (the fans) don't have a lot of confidence or a lot of feeling that things can be much better next season," Slot explained.
Kylian Mbappe and Xabi Alonso during a game between Olympiacos and Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe and Xabi Alonso during a game between Olympiacos and Real Madrid.(Image: Alex Pantling - UEFA via Getty Images)
"But I think they are then underestimating what a [transfer] window can do, what a new start can do. I think we know quite well what to improve.
"I think one of the things we also have to improve is also very, very, very obvious and I would have preferred not to talk about it here, but you're actually almost forcing me to.
"If you miss nine players that can start a game of football and almost all of them are starters for us, or have been for large parts of the season starters for us...
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"Then if you add that to what you can improve in a window and add that to players that are playing for the second season in the Premier League — and I think we saw the adaptation to the Premier League for a few of them took some time, but that's now better and better — that will automatically lead to much more.
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"But that's my opinion and no one has to agree with me.
"Even today, for large parts of the game we were close to a result but then when you are the better team you need to generate more chances, and if you have the chances you need to score them.
"We cannot concede as many set-pieces as we've conceded this season. I don't think the difference is so big, only doing in a few situations the right thing can already have a massive upwards possibility."