Alonso agrees to become next Chelsea boss

Xabi Alonso has agreed to become Chelsea's next permanent head coach on a four-year deal.

The Blues have been looking for a new head coach after Liam Rosenior was sacked in April after only three months in charge, and the former Real Madrid boss has emerged as the leading candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge.

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The Blues have moved to secure a manager that won the Champions League twice as a player as well as leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga-winning season in his first campaign as a coach in 2023/24.

The other candidates Sky Sports News knew Chelsea were interested in were Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham head coach Marco Silva. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, Como's Cesc Fabregas and ex-Flamengo boss Felipe Luis were other names being considered.

Defeat to Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup final means Chelsea are likely to be without European football next season for the second time in the BlueCo era.

They are currently ninth in the table, having picked up one point from their last seven Premier League matches.

Alonso will become the fifth permanent appointment of the BlueCo ownership era following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Rosenior.

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