Chelsea’s pursuit of Xabi Alonso is still far from finalized, but the logic behind it is compelling.
The Athletic reported on Monday that the Blues are exploring a move to appoint the former Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich midfielder as their new head coach. This news comes as little surprise, given that Alonso has been a top target since Liam Rosenior was dismissed last month. Andoni Iraola, who is leaving Bournemouth, also remains a strong candidate, having been identified early in the process.
What this Chelsea dressing room urgently needs is someone who commands immediate respect from the moment they step into the room.
As noted when Rosenior departed Stamford Bridge, a lack of connection between him and the players was a key reason his tenure lasted just 107 days. Alonso’s playing career alone ensures the squad will pay attention. He has accomplished far more than most of them, both as a player and a coach, and that carries significant weight.
Alonso won 11 major trophies with Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern, including two Champions League titles. He was also part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad in 2010 and claimed European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
Many current Chelsea players enjoyed success last season by winning the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup. Captain Reece James is the only remaining member from the 2021 Champions League triumph, while Enzo Fernandez lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. Yet their achievements still pale in comparison to Alonso’s.
Of course, being a great player doesn’t automatically translate into coaching success. But it certainly grabs players’ attention—knowing you’ve achieved sustained success they have yet to experience.
What makes Alonso even more appealing is that he has proven himself as a manager on his own merits.
When he took charge of Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022, after learning his trade with Real Madrid’s Under-14s and Real Sociedad B, the club was in the Bundesliga relegation zone. Alonso inherited a team struggling for confidence and results, much like Chelsea has been for months.
Within two years, he led Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title and also won the German Cup, remarkably completing the domestic campaign unbeaten. Their only loss across 53 matches in all competitions came against Atalanta in the Europa League final.
He set his team up in an entertaining 3-4-2-1 formation, a system that suits Chelsea’s squad well. The Blues have been accustomed to playing with a back three in possession under both Enzo Maresca and Rosenior over the past two seasons.
Crucially, Alonso improved players during his time at Leverkusen, including Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool last summer for a deal worth up to £116 million ($158 million). At his best, Wirtz played with the same swagger as Cole Palmer, an elite talent who has lost some sparkle over the last 18 months. This can partly be attributed to injury and fatigue, but there has always been a perception that Palmer thrived under the attacking freedom introduced by Mauricio Pochettino in 2023-24.
Another player who benefited from Alonso’s guidance at Leverkusen was Jeremie Frimpong, who also moved to Liverpool last year.
Speaking to The Athletic in 2024, the right-back praised Alonso for the transformative effect he had on his career.