Who is Xabi Alonso: Chelsea’s New Appointed Manager
Xabi Alonso (born 25 November 1981) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who will take over as manager of Premier League club Chelsea on July 1, 2026.
He is largely considered one of the greatest midfielders of his period, with a reputation for excellent passing range and long-distance shooting. Alonso is also widely regarded as one of the top young managers in the world as he takes on the new managerial position in Chelsea FC.
Xabi Alonso Biography
Xabier Alonso Olano was born in the small town of Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, to a football-playing family. His father, Periko Alonso, won La Liga twice in a row with Real Sociedad and again after joining Barcelona. He also played for the national team, winning 21 caps throughout his career.
Career
Alonso quickly advanced through Real Sociedad’s youth divisions and reserve squad (winning the regionalised fourth tier in a single season with the latter) before making his first-team debut at the age of 18.
On December 1, 1999, he made his debut senior appearance against Logroñés during a Copa del Rey encounter. Alonso did not make another appearance throughout the season, but the next year provided more opportunity.
At the start of the 2000-01 season, Javier Clemente assigned him to Segunda División team Eibar to gain experience. Alonso’s father believed that the move to the lesser club helped him progress as a player.
Real Sociedad saw a rapid transition of managers, including a two-month stretch under Periko Alonso’s leadership, which left Real Sociedad in a dire situation.
By January 2001, Real Sociedad was at the bottom of the league, and its new manager, John Toshack, went to the prolific Alonso in the hopes of turning the club around.
In a surprising move, the Welsh manager appointed the 20-year-old as club captain, a position normally held by more experienced players. By the end of the season, Sociedad had risen out of the relegation zone and finished 14th.
Toshack praised Alonso, saying that his impact on the team was extraordinary, particularly for a player from the youth team.
Alonso and Luis García joined Liverpool from Barcelona, ushering in a new era at Anfield. Rafael Benítez, the new manager of Liverpool, revamped the squad to implement his managerial style and tactics.
Benítez’s early signings were technical Spaniards, who emphasized technique above strength and provided a unique perspective for the club.
Alonso made his Premier League debut against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on August 29, 2004. Liverpool lost 1-0, but Alonso was already being praised for his passing abilities in the press.
Alonso’s abilities were on full display in a Premier League match versus Fulham. Liverpool fell behind 2-0 at halftime, prompting Benítez to bring in Alonso as a substitute.
He rejuvenated a deflated Liverpool, and the game ended 2-4 for the Merseyside club. Furthermore, Alonso scored his first goal for the club with a free kick, putting Liverpool ahead of the opponents.
On August 5, 2009, Alonso completed his £30 million move to Real Madrid. It has been suggested that he never wanted to leave the Anfield club, with his contract valid until at least 2012, and that his departure was due to disagreements with Benítez.
Former teammate Steven Gerrard said he was “devastated” by Alonso’s choice, seeing his departure as one of the causes for Liverpool’s dismal start to the following season.
On August 29, 2014, Alonso joined Bayern Munich on a two-year contract for an unknown amount. He made his debut the next day, starting in a 1-1 draw against Schalke 04.
On September 27, 2014, in a 0-2 win against 1. FC Köln’s Alonso broke the record for most passes completed in a Bundesliga game, with 196.[98] He scored his first goal for the club on October 18, 2014, with a free kick in a 6-0 victory over Werder Bremen.
On December 18, 2015, Alonso signed a new deal with Bayern, which would keep him at the club until 2017. On March 9, 2017, Alonso announced via Twitter that he would retire from professional football at the end of the 2016-17 season.
He and Bayern captain Philipp Lahm played their farewell professional game on May 20, a 4-1 home win over Freiburg, in which he assisted Arjen Robben’s opening goal. In the 82nd minute, he replaced Franck Ribéry.
Alonso was called up for Spain’s national football team by manager Iñaki Sáez for a friendly against Ecuador on April 30, 2003, at the age of 21. He started for the 4-0 victory at Vicente Calderón Stadium.
Sáez named Alonso to the UEFA Euro 2004 squad in Portugal. He came in as a substitute in the triumph over Russia and began the defeat against the hosts in a group stage exit.
On May 25, 2025, Alonso’s previous club Real Madrid announced his appointment as head coach for three seasons beginning June 1, 2025. He succeeded Carlo Ancelotti, who was his manager at both Real Madrid from 2013 to 2014 and Bayern Munich from 2016 to 2017.
On June 18, he made his Real Madrid debut as head coach, drawing 1-1 against Al-Hilal in the club’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup opener. Four days later, Alonso earned his first win for Los Blancos, a 3-1 victory over Pachuca despite being down to ten men in the seventh minute.
Real Madrid were eliminated in the semi-finals on July 9, 2025, after losing 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, Alonso’s first loss as Real Madrid manager.
He started the domestic season well, collecting the La Liga Manager of the Month award for August 2025 following a flawless start to the season. Real Madrid led La Liga by five points after a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in late October.
However, the team dropped points and lost first place in the rankings due to poor results in the succeeding months.
Alonso left Real Madrid by mutual accord on January 12, 2026, one day after losing 3-2 to Barcelona in the Supercopa de España final. Previous conflicts with Vinícius Júnior caused controversy during his tenure.
Chelsea announced on May 17, 2026, that Alonso would be their new manager on a four-year contract beginning July 1, 2026.
Xabi Alonso Wife
Xabier Alonso is married to his teenage love, Nagore Aranburu. Xabi Alonso and Nagore met as youngsters and soon fell in love.
They dated for several years before marrying in July 2009. Xabi Alonso and Nagore Aranburu married in a magnificent ceremony attended by a large number of guests, including some of Xabi’s Liverpool colleagues. Nagore was dressed in a lovely white gown that made her look like a real princess.
Nagore Aranburu and Xabi Alonso have three children together. They have a son and two daughters.
In 2008, Nagore Aranburu gave birth to Xabi Alonso’s son, Jontxu Aranburu Alonso, who was born before his parents married and attended their wedding.
Ane Aramburu Alonso, the couple’s second daughter, was born in 2010. Nagore gave birth to Emma Alonso in 2013, following her third pregnancy.
Xabi Alonso Net Worth
Xabi Alonso’s net worth is reported to range between $20 million and $60 million.