Good appointment on face value but I still have huge concerns at ownership and DoF level ... have they really changed strategy, or is Alonso just the next scapegoat, albeit one with a better CV ?

I would like to see some board room accountability (i.e. sackings) for the sh*t show season we've just had, but suspect that will all be brushed under the carpet now. The annual "review" process will probably just throw darts at Maresca and Rosenior.

Xabi Alonso appointed Chelsea manager

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Manager of the men’s team.

The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four‑year contract at Stamford Bridge.

One of the most respected figures in the modern game, Alonso arrives at Chelsea having already experienced coaching at the highest level of European football with Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the German club to the first league title in their history.

Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023/24

His appointment reflects the Club’s belief in his broad set of experiences, coaching quality and game model, leadership attributes, character and integrity, which were key to the decision to ask him to help lead the next phase of Chelsea’s journey.

He is regarded not only as an outstanding football coach, but also as a proven leader and partner across a number of areas essential to the demands of driving the team.

On his appointment, Xabi said: ‘Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.

Xabi Alonso enjoyed an illustrious playing career, winning 17 trophies for club and country, including the 2010 World Cup

‘From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.

‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.’

Chelsea Football Club looks forward with confidence to the next phase in collaboration with Xabi, united in the determination to bring success to Stamford Bridge, a hallmark of the Club’s history and future.

Interesting ... "Manager of the Men's Team"

Welcome Shabby. Good luck son. You're going to need it LOL

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Good appointment on face value but I still have huge concerns at ownership and DoF level ... have they really changed strategy, or is Alonso just the next scapegoat, albeit one with a better CV ?

I would like to see some board room accountability (i.e. sackings) for the sh*t show season we've just had, but suspect that will all be brushed under the carpet now. The annual "review" process will probably just throw darts at Maresca and Rosenior.

Very interesting that his role is now manager. Some strong messaging going on

Its now official, and yet I dont fully believe that we’ve got him!

A surprisingly competent get by the club, with an added bonus that its made the scouse muck cry....

I wonder if we'll now be signing Granit Xhaka from Sunderland LOL. Very influential under Alonso at Leverkeusen ...

13 hours ago, 19seventyone said:

I’ve never seen another poster even come close to how you completely make up scenarios of doom and despair.

Alonso has to be seen as a big positive if appointed. Our managers since Tuchel have divided the support. Alonso will have the vast majority of the support right behind his appointment and will clearly have insisted on a level of control he is comfortable with.

Its his thing, make things up they can be furious, at the thing they just made up...its so weird.

Hopefully gives the players a boost. Big difference walking into the changing room having a World Cup / Champions League winner giving ya directions instead of a guy who quite frankly had done nothing in football. No European football next season could be a blessing. Give Alonso plenty of time to get the players up to speed with his style. Genuinely looking forward to next season with some optimism now. Nice to have a bit of excitement for a change😂

22 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Interesting ... "Manager of the Men's Team"

Welcome Shabby. Good luck son. You're going to need it LOL

There’s stuff in my fridge with a longer shelf life than CFC managers

29 minutes ago, Timmy Elms said:

There’s stuff in my fridge with a longer shelf life than CFC managers

Still probably best not to eat that though LOL

1 hour ago, dermott said:

There's always one.

Make that two.

16 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I'm honestly wondering, is he a top appointment?

As a player yes a top career, excellent. As a manager though what makes him a top manager?

Well, whatever he is, if our "project ' remains basically the same , nothing much will change at our club.

Really happy with this appointment and the change in title to Manager.

I understand why people are sceptical and ideally the SD's would have been shown the door, but an admission of it not working or giving more respect to Alonso by some changes is the next best thing.

If the SD's have less hands on control and the manager has more control then that's a step in the right direction for me.

So for me, I'm choosing to be positive until there is something not to be positive about.

I hope he makes an apperance on Tuesday and it makes The Bridge less toxic for a change and then smash Spurs and help send them to Lincoln.

4 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Good appointment on face value but I still have huge concerns at ownership and DoF level ... have they really changed strategy, or is Alonso just the next scapegoat, albeit one with a better CV ?

I would like to see some board room accountability (i.e. sackings) for the sh*t show season we've just had, but suspect that will all be brushed under the carpet now. The annual "review" process will probably just throw darts at Maresca and Rosenior.

4 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Good appointment on face value but I still have huge concerns at ownership and DoF level ... have they really changed strategy, or is Alonso just the next scapegoat, albeit one with a better CV ?

I would like to see some board room accountability (i.e. sackings) for the sh*t show season we've just had, but suspect that will all be brushed under the carpet now. The annual "review" process will probably just throw darts at Maresca and Rosenior.

Even if they did that though, the post we all saw yesterday setting out the responsibilities of each seemed to me a clear message that Winstanley and Stewart are safe in their armour plated cocoon. It looked to me that they have clearly identified who may be offered up as sacrifice. Fallows is the new kid on the block but if I were Sam Jewell I'd be refreshing my LinkedIn page.

4 hours ago, dkw said:

A surprisingly competent get by the club, with an added bonus that its made the scouse muck cry....

Just praying now that he doesn't see the neanderthal Jordan Henderson as the experience we need. Or any other of those sh*te scouse players come to that.

5 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Even if they did that though, the post we all saw yesterday setting out the responsibilities of each seemed to me a clear message that Winstanley and Stewart are safe in their armour plated cocoon. It looked to me that they have clearly identified who may be offered up as sacrifice. Fallows is the new kid on the block but if I were Sam Jewell I'd be refreshing my LinkedIn page.

I bet they will be wincing every time they read the word manager against Alonso's name in the media.

Also hoping that Xabi Alonso will bring in or refresh our backroom team which hopefully will see the end of Ben Roberts, so we can completely overhaul our goalkeeping department

16 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Even if they did that though, the post we all saw yesterday setting out the responsibilities of each seemed to me a clear message that Winstanley and Stewart are safe in their armour plated cocoon. It looked to me that they have clearly identified who may be offered up as sacrifice. Fallows is the new kid on the block but if I were Sam Jewell I'd be refreshing my LinkedIn page.

sh*t flows downhill as they say ... :-)

I imagine Shields is on a sticky wicket too ... his bonus points for the Palmer signing have stalled badly in the last 18 months

Edited May 17May 17 by Sexyfootball

25 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Even if they did that though, the post we all saw yesterday setting out the responsibilities of each seemed to me a clear message that Winstanley and Stewart are safe in their armour plated cocoon. It looked to me that they have clearly identified who may be offered up as sacrifice. Fallows is the new kid on the block but if I were Sam Jewell I'd be refreshing my LinkedIn page.

25 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Even if they did that though, the post we all saw yesterday setting out the responsibilities of each seemed to me a clear message that Winstanley and Stewart are safe in their armour plated cocoon. It looked to me that they have clearly identified who may be offered up as sacrifice. Fallows is the new kid on the block but if I were Sam Jewell I'd be refreshing my LinkedIn page.

He's bound to day this, but ...

Fallows on his appointment last November..

“I've been impressed by a lot of the work that has gone on already around the development and recruitment strategy for players at all levels.

“I look forward to playing a part in building on the foundations they’ve already established with the talented squads developed under the owners.”

Many Premier League clubs operate with a single sporting director but Chelsea believe a collaborative model, in which each sporting director has their own responsibilities, will lead to greater sharing of expertise and greater accountability.

Hopefully the medical staff might have to manage their own minutes and maybe the Sporting directors wont have the pass code for the changing rooms post match.

Edited May 17May 17 by OTL

There's a video on YouTube where Mourinho is very complimentary about Alonso's prospect as a coach a few years ago.

I Keep f**king up trying to post the video

Hopefully the revolutionary idea that our manager will have some input on transfers means we stop the never ending young player churn every season

6 hours ago, Boyne said:

Xabi Alonso appointed Chelsea manager

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Manager of the men’s team.

The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four‑year contract at Stamford Bridge.

One of the most respected figures in the modern game, Alonso arrives at Chelsea having already experienced coaching at the highest level of European football with Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the German club to the first league title in their history.

Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023/24

His appointment reflects the Club’s belief in his broad set of experiences, coaching quality and game model, leadership attributes, character and integrity, which were key to the decision to ask him to help lead the next phase of Chelsea’s journey.

He is regarded not only as an outstanding football coach, but also as a proven leader and partner across a number of areas essential to the demands of driving the team.

On his appointment, Xabi said: ‘Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.

Xabi Alonso enjoyed an illustrious playing career, winning 17 trophies for club and country, including the 2010 World Cup

‘From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.

‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.’

Chelsea Football Club looks forward with confidence to the next phase in collaboration with Xabi, united in the determination to bring success to Stamford Bridge, a hallmark of the Club’s history and future.

Let's see these words back up by actions, BlueCo.

8 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Still probably best not to eat that though LOL

9 hours ago, Timmy Elms said:

There’s stuff in my fridge with a longer shelf life than CFC managers

I have some lemon curd in my fridge from 14 years ago, my ex girlfriend made it for me. I send her a picture of it once a year.. 🙂

19 minutes ago, guddy69 said:

I have some lemon curd in my fridge from 14 years ago, my ex girlfriend made it for me. I send her a picture of it once a year.. 🙂

You romantic, you.