Not Xabi Alonso – Spanish tactician close to becoming Chelsea boss
Chelsea eye their next manager as Xavi enters and exits the conversation
Chelsea are on the hunt for their next permanent head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season, and the search has already taken a few turns. According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, BlueCo had their eye on former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez. The club felt his possession-heavy tactics matched the footballing identity they have been building across the first team and academy over the last four years.
TalkSPORT later reported that Chelsea actually reached out to the 46-year-old Spaniard, who has been out of a job since leaving Barcelona in May 2024. Xavi, who led Barcelona to a La Liga title, seemed open to taking his first crack at the Premier League. However, things changed fast.
Journalist Ben Jacobs clarified that Chelsea aren’t likely to move forward with Xavi, and the higher-ups are now focusing on a three-man shortlist. Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva, and Andoni Iraola are the main names under consideration, while interim boss Calum McFarlane stays in charge until a permanent hire arrives in the summer.
Iraola has already confirmed he is moving on from Bournemouth at the end of this season, making him an easy target. Francesco Farioli of Porto and Cesc Fabregas of Como are still being mentioned as outside possibilities. (Via GOAL)
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Does Xavi’s exit from Chelsea’s list actually reveal what the club truly needs?
Chelsea dropping Xavi says a lot. His strengths are obvious with deep tactical smarts, a clear style of play, and real star power, but his time at Barcelona also showed some cracks in his man-management, how he rotates the squad, and how he deals with pressure in a messy dressing room.
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Chelsea, still trying to find their feet after firing so many managers this season, basically need someone as tough as they are smart. Xabi Alonso fits that description best, bringing the weight of a near-invincible Leverkusen campaign along with a calm, collected presence. Chelsea need a steady hand far more than a famous name stepping into a new environment without any Premier League experience.
