Chelsea close in on Xabi Alonso appointment

LONDON CALLING?: Xabi Alonso gestures on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League between Real Madrid and Liverpool last November. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Chelsea are close to appointing Xabi Alonso as their new head coach with an announcement possible before Tuesday’s game against Tottenham, the Press Association understands.

The former Real Madrid manager has emerged in the last few days as the leading candidate to replace Liam Rosenior and, though a number of other coaches have been under consideration, things have moved quickly and an agreement in principle is now in place.

The club had intended to take their time over the appointment of their next coach and no decision had been expected before the end of the season.

However, with the appointment of an elite coach of sufficient calibre and standing in the game a priority, the club have moved quickly 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.