{"id":242927,"date":"2026-05-11T20:17:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T20:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/hes-better-than-iraola-world-class-manager-now-gearing-up-to-join-chelsea\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T20:17:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T20:17:41","slug":"hes-better-than-iraola-world-class-manager-now-gearing-up-to-join-chelsea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/hes-better-than-iraola-world-class-manager-now-gearing-up-to-join-chelsea\/","title":{"rendered":"He’s better than Iraola: World-class manager now gearing up to join Chelsea"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Todd Boehly’s arrival at Chelsea<\/a> in May 2022 offered a fresh opportunity for the Blue to kick on and finally push for a Premier League<\/a> title after a lengthy five-year drought.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

However, despite \u00a31.7bn on new additions during such a period, no manager has been able to secure a top-three finish in England\u2019s top-flight at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior have all tried during the ownership\u2019s tenure – but have all fallen short, with 5th the best finish to date.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

After the latter was dismissed last month, the hierarchy are once again on the hunt for the next manager to try and make the club a force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n

Numerous names have already been touted with the role, but it\u2019s crucial that the hierarchy get the appointment correct, given the failures of those in recent years.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Chelsea Permanent Managers under Boehly<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Manager<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Apps<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

PPM<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Liam Rosenior<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Enzo Maresca<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

92<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.97<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Mauricio Pochettino<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.78<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Graham Potter<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.42<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n World-class manager keen on the Chelsea job<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Over the last couple of weeks, Chelsea have stepped up their interest<\/a> in former Barcelona boss Xavi to potentially take the reins at Stamford Bridge this summer.<\/p>\n

The 46-year-old has been out of work for nearly two years after leaving the Spanish giants, but is said to be open to returning to management in the months ahead.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Former\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, they aren\u2019t alone in wanting Xavi, with Manchester United another side who are said to be keen on hiring the Spaniard ahead of the 2026\/27 campaign.<\/p>\n

Despite the interest in hiring the former Barca boss this summer, it appears as though Xabi Alonso<\/a> is the man whom the hierarchy want to replace the departed Rosenior.<\/p>\n

According to The i paper, the 44-year-old is now the frontrunner<\/a> for the job at present, after he was dismissed from Real Madrid back in January with Chelsea said to be showing ‘serious interest’ in the Spaniard.<\/p>\n

The report also states that the former midfielder is gearing up for a return to management and is open to becoming the new Blues boss, suggesting that the club’s hierarchy are ready to cede some control on recruitment over to Alonso.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Xabi\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Alonso’s name seems to be right at the forefront of the rumour mill, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein also suggesting<\/a> on Monday evening that they are “exploring” a deal to bring the former Leverkusen boss to London this summer.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Alonso would be a better appointment than Iraola<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Despite interest in the aforementioned managers, departing AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola<\/a> has also emerged as a potential candidate<\/a> for the vacant Chelsea job.<\/p>\n

The Spaniard has already announced he will be departing the Vitality this summer, after rejecting numerous new contracts to extend his stay on the South Coast.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"AFC\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, he\u2019s constantly exceeded expectations in charge of the Cherries, with his side currently sat in sixth place in the Premier League with just two games remaining.<\/p>\n

As a result, their chances of securing European football are firmly within their own grasp – with the club potentially featuring in Europe for the first time in their history.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Andoni Iraola – Premier League Record<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Statistics<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Tally<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Matches<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

112<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Wins<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

41<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Draws<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

36<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Losses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Points<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

159<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

PPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.42<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Such a feat highlights the incredible work of Iraola at the Vitality, with the 43-year-old undoubtedly deserving of a chance to manage one of Europe\u2019s leading clubs.<\/p>\n

However, despite the interest in Iraola, the Chelsea hierarchy desperately need to look past the Spaniard and prioritise a move for his compatriot, Alonso.<\/p>\n

Whilst the former Liverpool player has only been in management for a handful of years, he\u2019s already built an impressive CV and one that could finally bring success back to the Bridge.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Real\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He won the Bundesliga title back in 2023\/24 with Bayer Leverkusen – subsequently securing their first-ever top division title and doing so whilst going invincible.<\/p>\n

Alonso, who\u2019s been dubbed \u201cworld-class<\/a>\u201d by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson, also won the DFB Pokal during the same campaign and secured a memorable league and cup double.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s since been at the helm at the Bernabeu, but was ultimately harshly dismissed after winning 71% of his games in charge during his six-month tenure in LaLiga.<\/p>\n

Despite not winning a trophy with the Spanish giants, he\u2019s demonstrated he\u2019s capable of living up to the demands of an expecting fanbase – something which is certainly the case at Chelsea.<\/p>\n

His experience of winning titles is something Iraola is yet to achieve in his own managerial career, with the Blues board needing to prioritise a move for Alonso.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Bayer\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The interest from other clubs in the Premier League demonstrates the need to work quickly, with Chelsea potentially ruing their decision not to pursue his signature.<\/p>\n

Iraola would be an impressive option to help build for the future, but the recent lack of success has only increased the need for a proven winner – something which Alonso has become known for.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Todd Boehly’s arrival at Chelsea in May 2022 offered a fresh opportunity for the Blue to kick on and finally push for a Premier League title after a lengthy five-year drought. However, despite \u00a31.7bn on new additions during such a period, no manager has been able to secure a top-three finish in England\u2019s top-flight at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":242928,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6808],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-242927","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242927"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242927\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/242928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}