Chelsea gets new manager

Chelsea are set to appoint former Xabi Alonso boss as their new manager, according to multiple reports on Saturday, just four months after his dismissal by Real Madrid.

British media outlet Press Association reported that Alonso has reached an agreement in principle with the Premier League side and could be unveiled before Chelsea’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

The Blues were initially expected to wait until the end of the season before naming a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last month after a disappointing campaign.

However, Chelsea have now moved swiftly for Alonso in what would be seen as a major statement by the club’s owners, BlueCo, following another turbulent season at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s woes continued on Saturday as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final, further underlining the need for a rebuild ahead of next season.

Alonso earned widespread acclaim during his spell with Bayer Leverkusen, guiding the German side to their first-ever Bundesliga title during an unbeaten 2023/24 campaign.

But his return to Madrid proved less successful. The 44-year-old lasted only seven months at the Santiago Bernabeu before being replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.

A former Liverpool FC midfielder, Alonso would become Chelsea’s fifth permanent manager since BlueCo’s takeover in 2022, following spells under Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Rosenior.

Chelsea currently sit ninth in the Premier League table and are facing the prospect of missing out on European football next season, with only two matches remaining in the campaign.