Xabi Alonso as the new coach of Chelsea

Chelsea announced Sunday that Xabi Alonso has signed a four-year deal to become the club’s head coach, taking charge from July 1.

Alonso said he’s proud to lead “one of the biggest clubs in world football” and expects a period of challenges and ambition. He added that discussions with the board and owners revealed a shared vision to build a squad that competes for top honors, and praised the club’s talented roster.

The club expressed confidence in Alonso’s ability to restore stability and return Chelsea to the winners’ podium. Alonso, 44, returns to the Premier League after a successful managerial spell that included a Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen and a later stint at Real Madrid; he also played for Liverpool from 2004–2009.