Chelsea have unveiled their new manager on Sunday. Xabi Alonso's next managerial adventure, after Leverkusen and Real Madrid, will be with the Blues in the Premier League. The Spaniard will take up his position on 1 July 2026, focusing entirely on the new season. Four months after leaving the Santiago Bernabéu, the 44-year-old has signed a four-year contract, keeping him until 2030. The Londoners are currently out of European competition, with just two games remaining in the league, which do not guarantee qualification, while on Saturday they missed a golden opportunity, after being defeated in the FA Cup by City.

Despite his poor spell at Real, where he was sacked, the Bundesliga title he won with Leverkusen carries a lot of weight. That's why Alonso has been selected by Chelsea's board to be a manager, not just a coach. In other words, his decision-making will extend beyond purely tactical and footballing matters.