David Ornstein shares surprising news about Xabi Alonso amid Chelsea and Liverpool rumors
Chelsea is searching for their sixth permanent manager since BlueCo took over the club in May 2022. They recently decided to part ways with Liam Rosenior in April. Since then, the Blues have been linked to some big names, though Cesc Fabregas has made it clear he’s not interested in the job.
Another name being talked about is Spaniard Andoni Iraola, who plans to leave Bournemouth at the end of this season. But there have also been rumors that Iraola might become the next manager of Crystal Palace, taking over from Oliver Glasner.
Xabi Alonso, the former Real Madrid coach, has also come up as a possible choice for Chelsea. However, he’s also been connected to a return to Liverpool, where he used to play. According to journalist David Ornstein, Alonso is “open to the possibility” of managing Chelsea but hasn’t ruled out the club going after Iraola as well.
Liverpool and Chelsea might end up competing to hire Alonso. Liverpool fans seemed unsure about their current manager, Arne Slot, especially after some boos at a recent game against Chelsea. Alonso, a former star, could offer new hope to Liverpool supporters, but Chelsea is also keen to find the right replacement for Rosenior before next season.
Fans of Chelsea are hoping the club picks the right manager to bring success back to Stamford Bridge, aiming for Premier League titles and Champions League glory. Alonso had some struggles during his time at Real Madrid, but recent events—like midfielder Federico Valverde being hospitalized after a fight with Aurelien Tchouameni—might have affected things beyond Alonso’s control.
There’s confidence Alonso could perform well at Chelsea, similar to what he did at Bayer Leverkusen. He led them to their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2024 and also won the DFB-Pokal that same year.
Where Alonso will end up is still unclear, but it’s obvious many top European clubs are very interested in him.