Xabi Alonso left Real Madrid less than eight months into a three-year contract, but his next move has taken him to Chelsea with a fresh start, a major squad-building project and a clear sense that the timing now feels right. The 44-year-old, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, is fully involved in training sessions on the club’s pre-season tour in Australia, where his hands-on approach has impressed players and staff alike.
Watching Alonso coach his Chelsea side often brings flashes of his playing days at Liverpool and Real Madrid. At Sky Park, the home of Sydney FC, he tees up players with accurate short passes before sending trademark cross-field balls across the pitch, reinforcing the impression that he remains deeply involved in every detail.
That intensity has stood out to his players in Australia, with outstanding ball-playing centre-back Levi Colwill admitting he feels
"jealous"of Alonso’s quality. In a hotel in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, Alonso also reflected on the path that brought him to Stamford Bridge, tracing it back through his father, Periko Alonso, a fellow Spain international and former Real Sociedad and Barcelona player.
As a child, Xabi would stand next to Periko in the kitchen as he prepared his training sessions for the next day. That background shaped his own approach to the game and, as he explained, made the route into coaching feel familiar rather than forced.
The road was not unknown for me. I had seen that at home
I'm not saying it was meant to be, but I had to try it. I wanted to try it, but not straight to the top level. I started in the under-14s and that was the way I wanted. It felt natural, not to rush.
That measured approach has long been associated with Alonso, whose style of play was characterised by slowing the game down. It has also defined his coaching pathway, which began away from the spotlight and has now carried him into one of the Premier League’s biggest jobs.
I got a scar, now it is healed
Alonso would make contact with players in training during drills, continuing the same active presence that has become a hallmark of his sessions. The image of him working closely with players underlines how involved he remains in the details of preparation.
He took his time coaching in youth football, but his progress soon began to reflect the same sense of control and certainty that marked his playing career. After taking over Bayer Leverkusen, previously nicknamed
'Neverkusen'in Germany because their best teams had only ever been able to finish second, Alonso made history in 2024 by leading them to an unprecedented domestic double: a first Bundesliga title and a first DFB-Pokal triumph since 1993.
Alonso described that achievement as
"unexpectedly fantastic". Yet after joining Real Madrid in May last year, he left by mutual consent following reports in Spain of disputes with key players such as Vinicius Jr.
Luckily, there are not too many scars in my career
I got a scar, now it is healed and I am determined to enjoy this next step as I did when I started in Madrid.
For the things that didn't work, I have been very critical of myself, thinking about what I could have done better. You learn from the disappointment of things.
For a man with 15 major titles, the reaction to one of the rare disappointments of his career has been notable. In the four months between leaving Madrid and joining Chelsea, Alonso said he used the time to
"reset energy", and that renewed focus has been visible since he arrived.
In his final session in Sydney, Alonso conducted a full run-through with his squad before facing Spurs, then pulled Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo aside for drills in which he backed into them and tried to knock them off the ball. It was another example of the physical, detail-driven work he is demanding from the team.
There has also been a strong emphasis on team-building. Players have been allowed time to explore, go to the cinema and do tourist activities, while the whole squad visited the refurbished North Sydney Olympic Pool for an Australian winter swim.
How did Alonso decide Chelsea was the right fit?
Alonso held discreet meetings in London and his hometown of San Sebastian over three weeks in early May to ensure Chelsea was the right fit. Although questions have been raised about why he chose the Blues over his former club Liverpool, there was no offer on the table from the Merseyside club.
He said he had taken a careful view of the club from the outside and worked through both the positives and the concerns before committing to Stamford Bridge. That process included early discussions with sporting directors about his vision for the club and how best to build momentum.
I had a view of Chelsea from the outside
I could see the positives and my concerns, so I addressed them. We had the same ideas, the same analysis, to start building momentum together. That is why we are taking these steps together and making decisions to build a good team.
That vision has already shaped recruitment, including the signing of £117m forward Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. He was Chelsea’s first-choice attacking target and was secured despite interest from Premier League champions Arsenal.
Alonso has also added full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, who could prove key to implementing the system he used at Bayer Leverkusen, while talks remain open over left-sided option Pep Chavarria of Rayo Vallecano.
We have taken a few steps but I feel that we can still take a few more
When asked about the backing he has received, Alonso offered that assessment while continuing to project the sense that he is heavily involved in the overall direction of the club. He has been careful not to overplay his hand when speaking to the media, but his influence is clear.
His role as the first manager, rather than head coach, under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital has perhaps been overstated. The club’s five sporting directors remain responsible for much of the operation, albeit in constant dialogue with Alonso and his staff.
As ever at this time of year, Chelsea are open for business, and the squad is still being reshaped around Alonso’s ideas.
Why are older players part of the plan?
There is genuine excitement around the arrival of striker Danny Welbeck, 35, who will now join the squad for pre-season. His role will be to provide experienced cover for Joao Pedro while also bringing a positive influence behind the scenes.
Midfielder Jordan Henderson, 36, is also set to arrive after Chelsea were unable to secure Alonso’s former Bayer Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka from Sunderland. Like he did under England manager Thomas Tuchel at this summer’s World Cup, Henderson is expected to help drive standards as a vocal leader, something Chelsea have lacked.
That would be similar to the role Alonso played under Pep Guardiola towards the end of his career at Bayern Munich. Together, the arrivals reflect what Alonso has described as a senior revolution at the Premier League’s youngest team.
Chelsea have previously suffered from indiscipline, a perceived softness defending set-pieces and, perhaps most importantly, a lack of leadership and dressing-room culture. Alonso believes the squad now needs a better balance of personalities and age groups if it is to develop properly.
You need the right balance of personalities and stages of maturity, with players in their early 20s, early 30s and everything in between
Culture is another area Alonso knows he needs to address, and he has spoken openly about the importance of collective purpose. He pointed to his Basque background as an influence on how he thinks teams should function.
In the Basque Country, we have a strong sense of collective purpose and culture
Alonso believes that culture must extend beyond the playing squad. He recently provided the assists for the winning side in a staff game before Chelsea’s overseas trip, another example of the inclusive environment he is trying to create.
What does the squad and family move mean for him?
The move also represents good timing on a personal level. With children aged 18, 16 and 12, there is excitement within the family about moving to London, adding another layer to Alonso’s decision to take the Chelsea job.
Although Chelsea ended last season in 10th place and without a trophy, Alonso sees the club as an exciting opportunity rather than a damaged one. He has argued that the situation was not as bad as it looked at the end of the campaign.
The situation was not as bad as it looked at the end of last season
There is big potential to improve and let's see how long it takes.
One month into the role, Alonso is encouraged that much of what he hoped would happen is already taking shape. At the same time, there remains an element of the unknown as he looks to leave his mark on one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, this time as a manager rather than a player.
For sure, it had to come a lot from here
And also from here
It has to come from the gut. I felt it was good timing for the club and good timing for myself. It was a good opportunity and I felt I had the chance to enjoy being a manager.
Alonso’s first match in charge at Stamford Bridge is against his boyhood club Real Sociedad on 15 August, giving the new manager an immediate personal connection to the next stage of his career.
The appointment follows Chelsea’s decision to bring in Alonso after a turbulent season and reflects the club’s belief that his mix of authority, tactical clarity and experience can help reset the dressing room. The early signs, in Australia and in recruitment, suggest he is already trying to shape both the culture and the competitive edge of the squad.
Key Facts
- Xabi Alonso left Real Madrid by mutual consent less than eight months into a three-year contract.
- He led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title and first DFB-Pokal triumph since 1993 in 2024.
- Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers for £117m and added Marco Palestra, with Pep Chavarria talks ongoing.
- Danny Welbeck, 35, and Jordan Henderson, 36, are set to join Chelsea’s pre-season squad.
- Alonso’s first Stamford Bridge match is against Real Sociedad on 15 August.
