Sources: Alonso agrees to become Chelsea coach
Key takeaways
- Chelsea, who lost the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, have been without a head coach since the dismissal of Liam Rosenior last month, 106 days after arriving as Enzo Maresca's replacement in January.
- Sources have told ESPN that Xabi Alonso is set to become Chelsea's new head coach.
- Sources have said that Alonso has sought assurances over the club's transfer strategy and coach's authority, but after negotiations with BlueCo, Chelsea's owners, he has agreed to accept the job.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Alonso, 44, has been out of work since being fired by Real Madrid in January after just half a season in charge at the Bernabéu, but sources have said that the former Liverpool midfielder has agreed a four-year contract with the west London club.
Chelsea, who lost the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, have been without a head coach since the dismissal of Liam Rosenior last month, 106 days after arriving as Enzo Maresca's replacement in January.
Sources have told ESPN that Xabi Alonso is set to become Chelsea's new head coach. Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty ImagesDespite having also identified Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva as potential replacements for Rosenior, whose role has been filled by interim coach Calum McFarlane in recent weeks, the Chelsea hierarchy has been in talks with Alonso in recent days after making the former Bayer Leverkusen coach their No. 1 target.