Calum McFarlane says everyone at Chelsea is ‘really excited’ to work with Xabi Alonso and the Spaniard’s appointment underlines the size of the club.

It was confirmed on Sunday morning that Alonso would be our new manager, with the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss starting in the role at the beginning of July, ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Alonso was a serial winner as a player, lifting the World Cup and two European Championships with Spain, as well as two Champions Leagues and four league titles during his time at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Upon retirement, he had spells in Real Madrid’s academy and at Real Sociedad B before taking the reins at Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, where he guided the club to their first ever Bundesliga title as the German side became the first club in 12 years in Europe’s top five leagues to go unbeaten on their way to the title.

Following another season at Bayer, he joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2025 before leaving the Spanish club by mutual consent in January.

Source: CFC