Chelsea are considering their options for a new permanent manager. Xabi Alonso is a leading contender for the job.
Alonso’s Odds and Alternatives
Alonso is joint-favourite at 2/1 to be named Chelsea manager for the first game of the 2026-27 season. Andoni Iraola is also listed at the same price. Marco Silva is also in contention at 6/1. Xavi and Frank Lampard are included in the odds list at 7/1.
Chelsea’s Current Situation
Chelsea are in ninth place in the Premier League table. They have lost eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions. Calum McFarlane is the interim boss while the club searches for a permanent replacement.
Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior have recently been in the role, with Rosenior lasting just 107 days.
Alonso’s Style and Potential Fit
Alonso might be the most compelling candidate and is available following his departure from Real Madrid earlier in the season. At the Bernabeu, Alonso struggled to win over the big personalities within the dressing room. It also did not help that Alonso inherited a squad ill-equipped to play his brand of football.
During his Bundesliga-winning time at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso favoured an aggressive, front-foot style of play. Leverkusen won possession in the final third (6.6 per 90 minutes) more than any other Bundesliga side in the season they won the title. Chelsea, on the other hand, rank a lowly 10th for the same metric in the Premier League this season. Alonso might not have the players to play the way he wants to play as Blues boss.
While Chelsea made some progress as a possession-oriented outfit under Maresca, they lost all sense of identity with Rosenior at the helm. Alonso also has a good track record in developing young players, having turned Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong into stars. These players would eventually make Leverkusen a lot of money in the transfer market.
Tactical Considerations
Tactically, Alonso used a 3-4-2-1 formation at Leverkusen. Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto could feasibly operate as high-and-wide wing-backs. Chelsea’s lack of genuine quality in the wide areas might make a narrow front three a wise choice.
With the end of the season in sight, Chelsea must accelerate their process of hiring a new boss.