Alonso takes over as Chelsea manager

Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso as their manager.

The 44-year-old Spaniard will officially take over in July and has signed a four-year contract.

Fulham’s Marco Silva was among those to have been considered by Chelseabut Alonso was the first choice.

The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss, 44, succeeds Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last month.

Interim manager Calum McFarlane has been in temporary charge, overseeing Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup final defeat against Manchester City at Wembley.

Alonso has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January after less than eight months in charge at the Bernabeu.

Prior to his spell in Spain, he enjoyed a stunning stint in Germany, leading Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title — secured without losing a single game—as well as the German Cup during the 2023-24 campaign.