Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the new Head Coach of the Men’s First Team.
The Spanish coach will officially begin his duties on 1 July 2026, following the signing of a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Regarded as one of the most highly respected figures in modern football, Alonso joins Chelsea after gaining elite-level coaching experience across European football, including roles at Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. During his time in Germany, he famously guided Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title in the club’s history.
His appointment reflects Chelsea’s confidence in his extensive football knowledge, tactical identity, leadership qualities, and professional integrity—key factors in the Club’s decision to entrust him with the next chapter of its project.
Alonso is widely recognised not only as an outstanding coach, but also as a strong leader capable of driving high-performance standards across all areas of the team environment.
Upon his appointment, Xabi Alonso said:
“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and I am extremely proud to become the manager of this great club.
“From my conversations with the ownership 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.
“There is great talent in the squad and huge potential within this club, and it will be my honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture, and winning trophies.”
Chelsea Football Club looks forward with confidence to the new era ahead, united with Xabi Alonso in its ambition to deliver sustained success at Stamford Bridge.
