{"id":9875,"date":"2026-05-11T23:52:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:52:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=9875"},"modified":"2026-05-11T23:52:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:52:21","slug":"xabi-alonso-stance-on-managing-chelsea-amid-liverpool-links-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=9875","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso stance on managing Chelsea amid Liverpool links | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Chelsea are exploring a possible deal for Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is reportedly \u2018open\u2019 to the idea of becoming Chelsea manager.<\/p>\n

Chelsea\u2019s hunt for a new head coach is now almost a month old, with club\u2019s sporting leadership group beginning their search in the immediate aftermath of Liam Rosenior\u2019s dismissal.<\/p>\n

Rosenior had enjoyed a promising start to life in the Chelsea dugout but results and performances took a turn for the worse from early February \u2013 and a miserable run of five straight league defeats without scoring a single goal proved the final straw.<\/p>\n

Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane picked up the pieces from Rosenior\u2019s turbulent 107-day reign and oversaw a 1-0 victory over\u00a0Leeds\u00a0to steer Chelsea into this year\u2019s FA Cup final.<\/p>\n

But a heavy 3-1 defeat at home to\u00a0Nottingham Forest\u00a0served as a stark reminder of Chelsea\u2019s desperate situation in the league \u2013 and Stamford Bridge bosses are eager to secure a deal for Rosenior\u2019s permanent successor sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

Since Rosenior\u2019s sacking, a host of high-profile names have been linked with the vacant position, including the likes of\u00a0Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andoni Iraola, with the latter\u00a0confirming that this season will be his last at Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understood Xavi is viewed as the most realistic option of the three and recent reports indicated the ex-Barcelona boss was perceptive to the possibility of taking over the reins in west London.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"FBL-KSA-SUPERCUP-BARCELONA-REAL\t<\/div>
The Spanish icon parted ways with Madrid after only seven months (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Bayer\t<\/div>
Leverkusen stormed to their first Bundesliga title with Alonso at the helm in 2024 (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to The Athletic\u2019s David Ornstein, Xavi\u2019s fellow countryman Alonso is similarly \u2018open\u2019 to the prospect of managing Chelsea and a deal for the ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder is being actively \u2018explored\u2019.<\/p>\n

However, with the recruitment process ongoing, the report suggests Chelsea want to avoid making a knee-jerk decisions and no final call has been made regarding a potential appointment at this stage.<\/p>\n

Iraola is said to remain a \u2018strong contender\u2019 for the role, while Fulham head coach Marco Silva, former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner are also under consideration.<\/p>\n

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Alonso won himself admirers across European football and established himself as one of the most highly sought-after young managers in the game with his extraordinary work in charge of Leverkusen, his first post in senior management.<\/p>\n

After taking over from Gerardo Seoan, Alonso oversaw an unprecedented undefeated domestic double in 2023\/24, steering the club to its first ever Bundesliga title and a first DFB-Pokal in three decades.<\/p>\n

The 44-year-old\u2019s remarkable success in Germany earned him a return to Real Madrid, where he had been a fan favourite as a player, but he was sacked after only seven months in charge at the Bernabeu.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Bayer\t<\/div>
Alonso spent five years with Chelsea\u2019s rivals Liverpool as a player (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The decision to part ways with Alonso came after Madrid had suffered defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, with Hansi Flick\u2019s men also holding a four-point lead at the top of La Liga at the time.<\/p>\n

Alonso, who has been out of a job since is dismissal in January, has also been tipped as a potential solution at Liverpool, where Arne Slot finds himself under intense pressure after an immensely disappointing title defence in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\u2018Of course there is a bond with my former club, but for now this is my place,\u2019 Alonso said of a potential reunion with Liverpool just weeks before his departure at the Bernabeu.<\/p>\n

\u2018In future, you never know what might happen.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Alonso would \u2018light up\u2019 Anfield, according to Cole (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Talking to TNT Sports this week, Joe Cole, who of course represented both Chelsea and Liverpool, suggested Alonso would \u2018light up\u2019 Anfield should he return to Merseyside \u2013 17 years after he left as a player.<\/p>\n

\u2018Liverpool usually stick by their manager,\u2019 Cole explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018People have said that Jurgen Klopp won Arne Slot the league last season, but it was Slot\u2019s team<\/p>\n

\u2018There have been circumstances, some of it tragic, then they\u2019ve had issues with the new signings. Alexander Isak started poorly, Florian Wirtz hasn\u2019t settled, Hugo Ekitike has been injured, and we\u2019ve seen the difference between Mohamed Salah this and last season.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s been so many factors, but I always come back to that fact that Xabi Alonso is available. <\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s the one thing that\u2019s always hanging there, and he might not be available again. We saw what he did at Bayer Leverkusen.<\/p>\n

\u2018It didn\u2019t work out at Real Madrid, but, of course, Arne Slot should stay. Alonso is there, and this place would light up again with him in the hot seat.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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