Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Evan Lloyd

Wed 29 April 2026 10:13, UK

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Xabi Alonso has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to be named as the next Chelsea manager after news of interest emerged.

Liam Rosenior was sacked after less than four months in charge last week, following a seventh defeat in just eight games.

Chelsea had been behind the 41-year-old, who arrived from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca in January, but ultimately could not ignore the damning results for any longer.

Andoni Iraola has been considered the favourite to replace Rosenior after announcing that he will be leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season.

But Alonso has now emerged as a serious contender to be Chelsea’s next manager amid reports that contact has been made with his agent.

Xabi Alonso leads Chelsea race

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider this month that Alonso is waiting to return to Liverpool, amid the pressure on Arne Slot.

The former Red had looked set to return to Anfield when Jurgen Klopp left in 2024, but ultimately decided to stay for another season with Bayer Leverkusen before joining Real Madrid last summer.

There, he appeared to struggle with the intense demands of the Spanish giants, and mutually agreed to leave in January.

A second chance to lead Liverpool had been looking likely to arrive this summer, but decision-makers still appear undecided on the future of Slot.

The Dutchman is under massive pressure at Anfield after a season that has seen last season’s Premier League title-winners slip to fourth, while being knocked out of every cup competition.

Yet it has emerged this week that Slot may well be given a chance to right this season’s wrongs in the next campaign, with Alonso now being tipped to take a job elsewhere.

Chelsea have reportedly reached out to the 44-year-old’s agent, and progress is being made ahead of a potential summer appointment.

One major bookmaker has made Alonso favourite for the Chelsea job at 15/8, while Iraola (11/4) and Marco Silva (11/2) now trail the former Real Madrid boss.

What Alonso has said about the Premier League

When Alonso was due to leave Leverkusen last summer, there were very few jobs that the Spaniard would have been passed up for.

The Spaniard transformed the German side into one of the best teams in the world, leading them on an unbelievable season that saw them lose just one game from 53 across all competitions, winning the domestic double and only missing out on the Europa League in the final.

Alonso’s team were staggeringly good in all areas of the pitch, and there is massive excitement surrounding his future in management.

Speaking in 2024, he was asked about a future role in the Premier League and said: “You never know. At the moment I have enough on my plate to think about, but I’m still young as a coach and for sure it’s a nice one.”