Alonso has been appointed as "manager", rather than "head coach", at Chelsea. *Photo: ChelseaFC*

In late 4/2026, when Liam Rosenior left Chelsea after less than four months in charge, BBC Sport revealed that some "The Blues" players had nicknamed him "the substitute teacher". Brazilian football talent Estevao Willian even joked that he could not believe Rosenior was a professional player after witnessing his former coach awkwardly miss a ball on the sidelines at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

In 2023, when Graham Potter was sacked after 31 matches, the British newspaper Independent reported that the Chelsea locker room had called the current Sweden national team coach "Harry Potter".

These short-lived coaching tenures and their accompanying nicknames have consistently coincided with media reports of an unstable locker room. In such an environment, a newly appointed coach struggles to establish authority and command absolute respect from the moment they arrive. As The Athletic once pointed out regarding Rosenior, Chelsea players' lingering attachment to former coach Enzo Maresca led to a lack of cohesion between the young coach and his players, resulting in his reign lasting only 107 days.

With Alonso, he not only brings an impressive resume, but his appointed title itself sends a firm message to the Chelsea players. The British newspaper Telegraph commented, "They have always found excuses for every defeat too easily. The coach was not good enough, too inexperienced, lacked trophies, or was too gentle. But Alonso's appointment shatters all those excuses."

Under BlueCo ownership, coaches before Alonso were only referred to as "head coach". The Spanish tactician, however, was explicitly named "manager" in his appointment announcement. This acknowledges Alonso's supreme position within the club's structure, signifying that the 44-year-old coach holds ultimate power.

If a "blame culture" has truly existed in the Chelsea locker room, BlueCo now aims to eradicate it. The board has brought in a truly world-class coach that the players have desired. Now, the ball of responsibility is in their court: prove your ability on the pitch.

Alonso won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2008 and 2012 with the Spanish national team, as well as 11 other major club titles. *Photo: Chelsea*

Alonso's illustrious playing career is enough to command the attention of his players. His achievements as both a player and a coach far surpass those of the current Chelsea squad, and this is a significant difference.

Most players in the current squad have only won the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup with the club last season. Captain Reece James is the only remaining player from the 2021 Champions League victory, while Enzo Fernandez lifted the World Cup trophy with the Argentina national team in 2022. However, their accomplishments pale in comparison to Alonso's vast collection of titles.

Alonso won the 2010 World Cup with the Spanish national team, in addition to Euro 2008 and 2012. At club level, he amassed 11 major titles with Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, including two Champions League titles.

A glittering playing career does not guarantee a successful coaching career. However, that reputation is enough to command respect from players, as they know their coach has achieved glories they have yet to experience.

If Estevao—even if it was just an innocent joke with Rosenior—doubts Alonso's ball-handling skills, he can search for videos that circulated on Bayer Leverkusen's social media pages. If Estevao needs a through ball behind the opposition defense, Alonso is still skilled enough to deliver a centimeter-perfect pass to him... on the training pitch.

At Leverkusen, Alonso also demonstrated his genuine coaching ability. When he took over the BayArena club in 10/2022 after starting his coaching career with Real's U14 team and Real Sociedad B, the German club was in the Bundesliga's relegation zone. Alonso then revitalized a team suffering from a crisis of confidence and poor form, a situation very similar to Chelsea's over the past months.

In just two years, he led Leverkusen to the club's first-ever Bundesliga title and also clinched the German Cup. Leverkusen achieved this feat with an unbeaten run in the domestic league. Their only defeat across all competitions during the 53-match campaign was against Atalanta in the Europa League final.

Alonso built Leverkusen's attractive attacking style of play using a 3-4-2-1 formation, a system that will suit Chelsea's current personnel. The west London club has been accustomed to operating with three defenders in possession under Enzo Maresca and Rosenior over the past two seasons. Alonso is also adept at developing players, most notably Florian Wirtz, who moved to Liverpool last summer in a 158 million USD deal.

Alonso led Leverkusen to the Bundesliga and German Cup titles in 2024. *Photo: Bayer Leverkusen*

Naturally, there are still some doubts regarding Alonso's resume. This includes the seven short months of his three-year contract with Real. A major reason for his dismissal was his inability to manage big egos in the locker room. This scenario sounds familiar to what Rosenior recently experienced at Chelsea.

However, considering the stature of the two entities, Real is very different from Chelsea. Alonso is also not the first coach to quickly leave the dugout at Santiago Bernabeu. That period will undoubtedly help him learn invaluable lessons for his next destination.

Alonso also deeply understands the rigors of English football from his time as a Liverpool player. His fluency in language is another powerful advantage. With Chelsea's Spanish-speaking players reportedly disgruntled after Maresca's departure in 1/2026, this seems to be the easiest solution to calm the locker room and steer everyone in the same direction.

Chelsea fans are tired of seeing their team become an outsider in the title race. "The Blues" have not won the Premier League since 2017 and have only finished in the top 4 once since BlueCo took over in 2022. Therefore, Alonso's past at Liverpool—years when his coach Rafa Benitez often made provocative statements against Chelsea—will be quickly forgotten if he can restore the west London club to its rightful position.

"Would a world-class coach really come to Chelsea right now, given our current standing?" former Chelsea captain John Terry asked in a social media video last month. Terry may have had his own agenda, stemming from his disappointment at being overlooked by Chelsea's owners for the interim coaching role, but his question had merit. In that context, Chelsea securing Alonso's agreement is a significant success for them.

Two and a half years ago, when explaining his decision to choose Leverkusen as his first top-tier coaching destination, Alonso told The Guardian: "I had other offers to choose from. But I made the final decision based on a bit of intuition, the right connection, the right time, and the right place."

Timing plays a decisive role in whether a coach rejects or accepts an offer to manage a team, and this often leads to certain compromises. In Chelsea's case, as The Athletic revealed, Alonso held a significant advantage in negotiations due to his reputation and the club's situation. The "manager" title clearly reflects that balance of power.

Alonso signed a 4-year contract and was allowed to bring his entire coaching staff. *Photo: Chelsea*

The 4-year contract offered by Chelsea, along with the club's agreement to let him bring his entire assistant staff, are seen by Alonso as proof of the club's trust and full empowerment to build his project. Combined with promises from the hierarchy to upgrade the squad this summer, including adding experienced players, Alonso has every reason to confidently mold a team that embodies his philosophy.

Alonso's mission will extend beyond tactics and results. He is responsible for elevating daily standards by establishing a culture of accountability, fighting spirit, and collective duty. For example, the frequent bookings Chelsea has received over the past two seasons have become a headache, and from next season, Alonso will need to implement a solution.

Chelsea has concluded its period of self-reflection and correction, determining that they need a manager who not only has a resume full of titles and tactical prowess but also possesses a strong personality and is a true leader capable of establishing discipline. In this environment, collaboration is essential for building a winning culture, and alignment between the coach and sporting directors in player recruitment is a crucial foundation.

However, words must be matched with actions. Alonso does not need pats on the back after every win, nor does he require lengthy post-match debriefings after every loss. He does not need anyone to tell him what to say or when to remain silent with the media. Above all, Alonso must be given time, patience, and absolute trust to steer the ship in his own way.

Hoang Thong compiled