Xabi Alonso has spoken for the first time as Chelsea manager after the former Liverpool hero's appointment at Stamford Bridge was confirmed a day after its FA Cup final defeat
09:30, 17 May 2026Updated 09:40, 17 May 2026
Xabi Alonso is the new manager of Chelsea.
Xabi Alonso is the new manager of Chelsea.(Image: Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has spoken for the first time after being confirmed as Chelsea's new manager, where he will take over officially on a four-year deal on July 1.
After Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior were both fired by Chelsea this season, the West London outfit was on the hunt for another new head coach. It has agreed to give Alonso more power than previous people to have held the role in order to convince him to take the next step of his coaching career in the Premier League.
"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club," Alonso told club media after the appointment was made public.
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"From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies."
Chelsea finishes this season with matches against Tottenham and Sunderland. As things stand, it is ninth in the Premier League table, level on points with Everton.
Things did not go well for Alonso when he was in charge at Real Madrid. He was fired from that role in January, but was very successful with Bayer Leverkusen before that.
Xabi Alonso during his spell at Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso during his spell at Real Madrid.(Image: Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Kylian Mbappe spoke earlier this week about Alonso not being at fault for what went wrong at the Bernabeu. Things have only further unraveled since his departure from the Spanish giant.
"We had a structure in our game, and we lost it — that hurts a lot," Mbappe told Spanish media after Real Madrid beat Real Oviedo on Thursday.
"I had a great relationship with Xabi Alonso. He is going to become a great coach, but that is now in the past. We have to look forward.
"We did not win titles and that hurts because we showed we were capable of much more. We all share responsibility and we have to change this."
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Mbappe was jeered by his own fans when he was brought on as a substitute against Real Oviedo on Thursday. He had been left out of the starting XI, but played it down at the final whistle.
"I haven't played because for the coach I've been the fourth striker in the squad behind Mastantuono, Vini and Gonzalo," Mbappe explained.
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"I was ready to start, but it's his (manager Arbeloa's) decision, and it always has to be respected.
"I have no problem at all with Arbeloa. You have to accept the coach's philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono."