Is Chelsea a good fit for Xabi Alonso?

Chelsea still have plenty to say when it comes to the outcome of the 2025-26 season. 

This weekend, they'll take on Manchester City in the FA Cup Final, looking to add silverware to what's been another roller-coaster season at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues will also play their part in the relegation scrap, with rivals Spurs heading across the capital next week in a game they must win or face possible relegation on the final day of the campaign.

Overseeing all the drama will be interim boss Calum McFarlane, who was brought in for a second spell following the sacking of Liam Rosenior last month. 

With no expectations that the rookie boss will get the job permanently, there's continued speculation about who will take charge next season. 

Names in the frame 

Various reports have emerged over the past few weeks naming the candidates Chelsea are considering for the Blues' hot seat ahead of the new season. 

Andoni Iraola's departure from Bournemouth this summer makes him a prime candidate for the role, while Marco Silva and Oliver Glasner have also emerged as possible replacements given their success in the Premier League. 

Further afield, former players Cesc Fabregas, currently impressing with Como in Serie A and Felipe Luis, now a free agent after a successful spell in Brazil with Flamengo, are also on their radar. 

However, according to David Ornstein, the latest name to be seriously considered is Xabi Alonso. 

Chelsea are exploring the possibility of making the former Spanish midfielder their new boss, with Alonso a free agent following his departure from Real Madrid in January. 

Alonso is said to be interested in speaking to the West Londoners, but would the meeting of minds between Chelsea and the Spaniard be the right move for all? 

Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

Who is the real Alonso? 

The next role for Xabi Alonso is a big one, as we're yet to find out if the 44-year-old has the potential to be the elite manager many expected following his exploits at Bayer Leverkusen. 

He made history in his spell in charge of the German club, where he led Leverkusen to their best-ever season, winning their first-ever Bundesliga title without losing a game and adding the DFB-Pokal to complete the double.

The club went 51 games unbeaten before losing the Europa League final, but Alonso and his team etched their name into club folklore with a campaign never likely to be repeated. 

The manager's success meant it was only a matter of time before big names came calling, and when former club Real Madrid fluttered their eyelashes in his direction, it was a no-brainer for Alonso. 
 

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Yet, things didn't exactly go to plan, even though it seemed like the ideal next step for him to return to the Bernabeu. 

It started well. Alonso was named Manager of the Month in August, and by October, Real were five points clear at the top and had beaten rivals Barcelona in the El Clásico.

But it was believed no one really ever bought into the new boss. Florinto Perez had to be convinced to bring him to the Spanish capital, and after a downturn in form, he was quickly unimpressed with the results and performances.

What Alonso had done well at Leverkusen, where players eventually 'got' his style and game plan, could never be installed in Madrid. Disagreements over transfers, rumblings of discontent with big names such as Vinicius Jr, and a drop-off in the league were all too much for the board, and he was relieved of his duties after just seven months in charge.

Now, his next move needs to be considered. It's believed a Premier League job would be Alonso's preference, but Chelsea has been the downfall for many top managers in the past. 

Key decision 

Most expected to see Xabi Alonso as Liverpool's new boss if he were to arrive in the Premier League next season. However, with the Merseysides now leaning towards sticking with Arne Slot next term, Stamford Bridge could be Alonso's destination instead. 

The issue lies with the Chelsea machine, which seems to chew up and spit out managers at an alarming rate when things start to go wrong. Owners Blueco have so far not found a manager they can call 'theirs' with an asterisk next to nearly every appointment. 
 

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Even Enzo Maresca, a boss who won them two trophies last season, couldn't jump on board with how the club was run, so can Alonso conform to what the Blues board want? 

So far, we've seen that he's very much his own man. He has his own style and wants everyone to be on the same page to find success - a formula that worked perfectly with Leverkusen. 

Will he get that sort of time at Chelsea? And the backing from both the owners, who haven't dealt with managers gracefully, and a squad of young players who have also reportedly been difficult when not invested in their leader's way of thinking. 

It's a big call for the World Cup-winning midfielder. Like any manager, he'll have the belief he can be the difference at Chelsea, but another failed term, whatever the reasoning, at an 'elite' club, could very much derail the trajectory of one of the game's brightest young gaffers. 

How to watch the Premier League in Canada

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