Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Manager of the Menβs Team.
The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Welcome to Chelsea, Xabi!
Today, Sergio Busquets will play his final game of football.
The last ever disguised pass.
The last ever delayed through pass.
The last ever body feint.
The last time seeing pure calmness in a lonely pivot role.
The last time watching the greatest CDM ever lived. β€οΈ
"Right now, I'm at the phase in my life whereby I'm really trying to give myself undivided attention. All my life I've been trying to be there for people, but right now I'm really just tryna focus on myself squarely, 100%"
β Olamide.
Dan Scott π£οΈβI know Maresca is a top manager, and heβs still learning weβve already seen him improve from the red-card situations and other setbacks.
But where he needs to grow immediately is handling newly-promoted sides.
He always seems to struggle against those teams, and thatβs exactly where Chelsea keep dropping points.
It happened last season as well, and itβs a pattern he needs to fix quickly.
And the reason he keeps losing those matches is down to the excessive rotations it disrupts rhythm, the players donβt build continuity, and those sides punish any lack of cohesion.β
Lucas Mendes π£οΈβChelsea stopped Arsenal from doing what theyβre usually good at.
Arsenal couldnβt win their second balls, and they were losing every duel. This game will feel like a massive morale booster for Chelsea, and Arsenalβs ego will have been touched.
If there wasnβt a red card, Chelsea would have won that match. They had Arsenal pinned back in a low block and were in control.β
A right back outperformed a midfield of Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard and Eze.
God will punish all of you that compared him to Timber.
Reece James, take a bow. ππ