{"id":31867,"date":"2026-04-28T09:10:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/28\/chelseas-next-manager-xabi-alonso-added-to-shortlist-for-opening-match\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T09:10:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:10:41","slug":"chelseas-next-manager-xabi-alonso-added-to-shortlist-for-opening-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/28\/chelseas-next-manager-xabi-alonso-added-to-shortlist-for-opening-match\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea’s next manager: Xabi Alonso added to shortlist for opening match"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chelsea are looking for their next permanent manager after sacking manager Liam Rossenier and appointing Callum MacFarlane on an interim basis, with three names emerging on the shortlist.<\/h2>\n
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Xabi Alonso is on Chelsea’s shortlist (Image: Ricardo Larreina\/Europa Press via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Chelsea will be in touch with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola in their search for a new manager, and will check out Xabi Alonso and Marco Silva. The Blues sacked Liam Rosenior last week after losing five straight in the Premier League, ending their Champions League hopes.<\/p>\n
Manager Callum Macfarlane will take on first-team duties until the end of the season after leading Chelsea to the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Leeds on Sunday. McFarlane will then be replaced by his permanent successor in Roseniall, who spent just three months in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.<\/p>\n
On Monday, it was revealed that Chelsea had made contact with manager Iraola (43). Manager Iraola is set to leave Bournemouth when his contract expires in June. However, the Telegraph reports that the Spaniard is not the only manager being considered.<\/p>\n
Like Iraola, Fulham manager Silva, whose contract expires this summer, is also expected to be contacted. The same goes for Alonso, who was sacked by Real Madrid in January after just seven months in charge, with the former Liverpool midfielder now under the same international umbrella as compatriot Iraola.<\/p>\n
World Cup Legends: The stars of soccer’s biggest tournament in history – buy the special edition now<\/p>\n
read more: Chelsea’s next manager: Callum MacFarlane’s odds drop significantly after FA Cup semi-final win<\/span><\/span>read more: Trevor Chalovar hits back at Chelsea critics following Liam Rosenier accusations<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
However, these three are not the only managers on Chelsea’s shortlist, with other unnamed candidates also being discussed. The group of five sporting directors will spearhead the process to appoint the club’s sixth permanent manager since Chelsea was acquired by the Todd Boley and Clearlake Capital consortium in 2022.<\/p>\n
The Blues have a week until next Monday afternoon when they host relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest in a rematch. Alonso and Iraola are currently available on loan in the summer, but Silva’s future at Fulham is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n
Who should Chelsea appoint as their next manager? Let us know your choice in the comments section.<\/p>\n
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Chelsea are set to speak to Marco Silva’s camp and have already made contact with Andoni Iraola’s camp (Image: GLYN KIRK\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
When asked last week if there had been any progress regarding his future, the Portuguese replied:<\/p>\n
“That’s the same answer I already told you last week. Same. I’m not going to comment[on my future]every week.”<\/p>\n
“When something new happens, we will communicate from ourselves, myself and the club. Anything that I need to do or the club needs to do with me will be done between me and the club.”<\/p>\n
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