Better than Zidane and Ancelotti! Chelsea shortlist 74% win-rate manager
Chelsea are looking at Xabi Alonso as their main choice to take over as manager after he left Real Madrid. Even though his time in Spain ended suddenly, reports from FussballDaten suggest the Blues’ bosses see him as a top-level coach who can turn things around.
Chelsea monitor Xabi Alonso after Real Madrid exit
The West London club recently let go of Liam Rosenior, leaving a big gap that needs a leader with a history of winning in Europe. Alonso is definitely a good option, especially since he maintained a massive 74% win rate in La Liga, better than the records of both Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti.
While things didn’t work out at Real Madrid, Alonso is still highly rated across Europe because of what he did at Bayer Leverkusen. He famously ended Bayern Munich’s dominance in Germany, showing he has the tactical smarts to beat the biggest teams.
Chelsea are also looking at Premier League managers like Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva as backup plans. These managers already know the English league well, but they don’t quite have the trophy-winning history that Alonso has. The club have a lot of young talent right now, which is perfect for a coach who focuses on technical skill and keeping the ball.
Can Xabi Alonso thrive under the intense pressure at Stamford Bridge?
I think Xabi Alonso is the most sensible pick for Chelsea, even if there’s a risk because he hasn’t managed in the Premier League before. His style of play requires a lot of discipline, often featuring inverted full-backs and a mobile midfield, which could finally bring out the best in Enzo Fernández.
However, because he sticks so closely to his system, he sometimes struggles for a Plan B when teams defend deep. Alonso’s biggest asset is the respect he earned during his legendary playing days, which helps him connect with both players and owners.
Succeeding in London takes more than just winning games; it requires a manager who can handle the constant pressure from the British media. Alonso proved at Leverkusen that he stays cool under stress, but the Chelsea job often ruins coaches who don’t get results right away.
He will need to fix his defensive setups quickly, as the Premier League is much quicker to punish the high defensive line he liked using in Madrid. If the board gives him the time they didn’t give others, he could build something special. Chelsea have to decide if they want the safety of Silva or the massive potential of Alonso.
Rohit Sarkar
