{"id":7261,"date":"2026-05-11T15:15:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7261"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:15:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:15:43","slug":"chelsea-set-deadline-for-new-manager-as-blueco-slash-their-shortlist-by-more-than-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7261","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea set deadline for new manager as BlueCo slash their shortlist by more than 10"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-367568\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add as preferred source on Google<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>The search for Chelsea\u2019s next permanent manager is set to intensify in the next couple of weeks as BlueCo set a deadline for the appointment, while also reducing the number of names on their list.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As things stand, nothing has been made concrete in terms of Chelsea\u2019s actual hunt for a specific manager. But for some time, Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola have been touted as the front-runners.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"74909401-8595-4074-9a62-89a4ab9cee30\" data-story-name=\"New Chelsea Manager\" data-comment-id=\"9280ab1d-f374-4d6a-afb7-7f4cb217a172\" data-story-slug=\"new-chelsea-manager\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">Would you take Filipe Luis as manager with Thiago Silva as assistant?\ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">They&#8217;ve been hanging out together in London!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"623\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-07-002340-1024x623.png\" alt=\"Filipe Luis and Thiago Silva together\" class=\"wp-image-366783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-07-002340-1024x623.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-07-002340-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-07-002340-768x467.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-07-002340-1140x693.png 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-07-002340-750x456.png 750w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-07-002340.png 1403w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"Instagram - thiagosilva\">Instagram \u2013 thiagosilva<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Alonso remains out of work after being sacked by Real Madrid in January, while Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola are both contracted with Fulham and Bournemouth. Iraola has confirmed he will be leaving.<\/p>\n<p>Silva, meanwhile, is yet to sign a new deal at Fulham but remains out of contract this summer. Chelsea have now set a deadline for their new appointment. Kaveh Solhekol delivered an update on Sky Sports. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-kaveh-solhekol-provides-the-latest-on-chelsea-s-manager-hunt\">Kaveh Solhekol provides the latest on Chelsea\u2019s manager hunt<\/h2>\n<p>According to Solhekol, Chelsea\u2019s decision-makers want a new manager appointed by the middle of next month. There are two reasons for that, the first, allowing the new boss to have his say in the window.<\/p>\n<p>Then, to take his new Chelsea squad on their pre-season tour of both Australia and Asia, with the first pre-season game scheduled for July 28. They face Western Sydney Wanderers at the Accor Stadium.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2238630187-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"FBL-ENG-PR-BOURNEMOUTH-FULHAM\" class=\"wp-image-366660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2238630187-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2238630187-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2238630187-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2238630187-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2238630187-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2238630187-750x500.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"Bournemouth's Spanish manager Andoni Iraola (R) greets Fulham's Portuguese head coach Marco Silva (L) ahead of kick-off in the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Fulham at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on October 3, 2025. (Photo by Glyn KIRK \/ AFP) \/ RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club\/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club\/league\/player publications. \/  (Photo by GLYN KIRK\/AFP via Getty Images)\">Photo by GLYN KIRK\/AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Solhekol also says Chelsea have a shortlist of five or six managers, which includes Alonso, Silva and Iraola. A number that has clearly been reduced, amid initial reports saying Chelsea had considered 20 options.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChelsea are aiming to have a new manager in place by the middle of next month. They now have a shortlist, and on that shortlist, I believe there are five or six names they are focusing on,\u201d Solhekol said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNames on that list include Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola, and Marco Silva. They want a new person involved in transfer market planning, and so he is in charge of when Chelsea leave for their pre-season tour.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-managers-are-now-already-out-of-the-running\">Which managers are now already out of the running?<\/h2>\n<p>Fabian Hurzeler is a manager Chelsea did background work on, but the German gaffer is set to remain with Brighton, having put pen to paper on a new contract. Hurzeler has starred since arriving in England.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar-poll\" data-story-id=\"0014d213-24cc-415e-a559-10d6a8ddd9a0\" data-story-name=\"2025\/26 Season\" data-comment-id=\"fe456412-f9b5-4c0d-bdf2-2395e0f5d9f7\" data-story-slug=\"2025-26-season\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">QUARTER-FINAL 4: Which Chelsea player has had the best season?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-5-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-367441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-5-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-5-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-5-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-5-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-5-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-5.png 1080w\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Then there is Porto manager Francesco Farioli, fresh from guiding Porto to the Liga NOS title ahead of Jose Mourinho\u2019s unbeaten Benfica. Andre Villas-Boas is said to have rejected Chelsea\u2019s move for Farioli.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Farioli spoke over the weekend about \u201cnext season\u201d, suggesting he is going to remain at Porto. Others like Oliver Glasner, Niko Kovac, Xavi and plenty more names have been touted with Chelsea.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/chelsea-set-deadline-for-new-manager-as-blueco-slash-their-shortlist-by-more-than-10\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0),j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0);e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")(0).appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'Chelsea set deadline for new manager as BlueCo slash their shortlist by more than 10',content_category:'News',content_ids:(367568,\"andoni-iraola\",\"blueco\",\"marco-silva\",\"xabi-alonso\"),content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add as preferred source on Google The search for Chelsea\u2019s next permanent manager is set&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7261"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7261\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}