According to an analysis by The Athletic, Xabi Alonso has emerged as one of the leading candidates to become Chelsea’s next head coach. Chelsea’s poor form and lack of a clear identity have made Alonso’s high-pressing philosophy and proven ability to develop young players particularly attractive to the club. However, Chelsea’s current squad may not be ideally suited to his tactical approach. At the same time, Alonso is also viewed as a strong contender for the Liverpool job, meaning he could face multiple offers this summer.

This weekend, Chelsea F.C. travel to Anfield to face Liverpool F.C., with both clubs now seriously considering the future of their managerial positions. Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso has become one of the most talked-about candidates for both roles.

For now, though, most of the attention is focused on Chelsea. The Blues currently sit ninth in the Premier League, and whoever officially takes charge this summer will be tasked with reviving a team that appears to have completely lost its direction.

Chelsea have lost eight of their last ten matches in all competitions. With Steve McClaren serving as interim manage.

Enzo Maresca failed to succeed in such a difficult environment, while Liam Rosenior lasted only 107 days before being dismissed. Could Alonso be the solution Chelsea truly need?

At the moment, Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite to manage Chelsea in their opening game next season, tied with Andoni Iraola. Marco Silva follows closely behind, with Xavi Hernández and Frank Lampard also among the contenders. As the season nears its conclusion.

Alonso may be the most attractive option available, especially after leaving Real Madrid CF earlier this season. During his time at the Bernabéu, the former midfielder reportedly struggled to fully win over some of the dressing room’s biggest stars. In addition, the squad he inherited was not particularly suited to his footballing philosophy.

During his title-winning spell at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Alonso built one of Europe’s most exciting teams, based on aggressive attacking football and intense pressing. In their championship-winning Bundesliga campaign, Leverkusen averaged 6.6 high turnovers per game — the best figure in the league — perfectly reflecting Alonso’s emphasis on pressing high up the pitch.

By comparison, Chelsea rank only 10th in the Premier League for the same metric this season. In other words, if Alonso were to take charge at Stamford Bridge, he may not currently have enough players suited to his preferred system.

Yet that is precisely why a coach like Alonso could appeal so strongly. Under Maresca, Chelsea at least attempted to build a possession-based identity, but during Rosenior’s tenure, the team appeared to lose any recognisable style or sense of direction.

Alonso also boasts an impressive track record in developing young talent. At Leverkusen, he helped turn Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong into elite-level stars, ultimately generating huge transfer value for the club.

Tactically, Alonso primarily used a 3-4-2-1 system at Leverkusen, potentially offering a clue as to how he might set up Chelsea. Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto both appear capable of operating as attacking wing-backs in such a structure. Given Chelsea’s lack of truly elite wide players, a narrower front-three setup could even make sense.

However, Chelsea may lack suitable centre-backs for the system unless Reece James is permanently deployed as the right-sided centre-back. Injuries have left the Blues struggling at times this season to field even two fully fit central defenders.

During his spell at Real Madrid, Alonso also showed a willingness to adapt. He used a 4-3-3 system for much of his time there. Whether that was a deliberate evolution or a forced compromise remains unclear, but it at least suggests his tactical flexibility may be broader than many assume.

This summer, Alonso is likely to receive more than one major offer. In fact, if Arne Slot leaves Liverpool this summer, Alonso is widely regarded as one of the leading candidates to replace him.

Some Liverpool fans have already been heard chanting Alonso’s name during matches, expressing frustration with the club’s performances this season. A return to Anfield would undoubtedly be warmly welcomed.

At present, Alonso is also the overwhelming bookmakers’ favourite to become Liverpool’s next manager. Even after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, he may still prefer the Liverpool job over Chelsea.

So next season, will Alonso face Slot in the Premier League — or replace him directly?

This Saturday, Chelsea travel to Anfield desperately needing someone capable of restoring identity, belief, and direction to the club. Alonso may possess exactly that kind of presence, just as he demonstrated during his remarkable spell at Leverkusen.

At Leverkusen, Alonso also worked successfully within a structure where the sporting director led recruitment decisions — something that would undoubtedly appeal to Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership group.

Still, Alonso himself must proceed carefully. Many are willing to overlook his disappointing stint at Real Madrid, but a second high-profile failure in quick succession would inevitably raise serious questions about his managerial credentials.

After several managers have struggled at Stamford Bridge in recent years, the next coach willing to take on the Chelsea job — and genuinely believe he can fix the club’s deep-rooted problems — will need tremendous courage.