Who Could Become Chelsea’s New Manager?

Chelsea are continuing their search for a new head coach and are actively assessing a shortlist of candidates as they move towards appointing Liam Rosenior’s successor ahead of pre-season.

The club are expected to consider a mix of profiles, with Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner, Filipe Luís and Cesc Fàbregas all under consideration.

Discussions are ongoing, with Chelsea set to continue looking into each option before narrowing the list further in the coming weeks.

Andoni Iraola

Andoni Iraola has established himself as one of the most impressive rising coaches in the Premier League after guiding Bournemouth to the brink of historic European qualification.

That form has placed him firmly on Chelsea’s shortlist, with admiration growing for his aggressive, structured and high-intensity style of play.

However, Iraola has kept his options deliberately open. Speaking about his future amid renewed interest from Crystal Palace, he said: “I’m in no rush. I will not talk about my future. I’m fully focused on trying to finish this season with a reward, something tangible for the players and supporters.”

Crystal Palace have already made two approaches in their search for a successor to Oliver Glasner, but Iraola rejected both advances. While Palace have not completely ruled him out, Chelsea’s involvement adds another major layer to his decision-making.

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso is understood to be the leading candidate among Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, and is viewed internally as a potential transformative appointment.

The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager is seen as someone capable of reshaping Chelsea tactically while elevating a young squad, with his unbeaten title-winning season in Germany still carrying significant weight.

Alonso is reportedly keen to return to management this summer, and contact between his representatives and Chelsea has progressed in recent weeks, with increasingly positive signals.

There is currently no serious competition from Liverpool, despite his playing links to Anfield, with Arne Slot expected to remain in place.

A potential appointment would likely require Chelsea to adjust their current structure, including giving greater influence to the head coach over recruitment, something the club are believed to be open to after previous tensions with managers.

Marco Silva

Marco Silva is another serious contender, with his experience in English football making him an attractive and pragmatic option.

Silva, who is due to become a free agent, has built a steady managerial career across Portugal, Greece and the Premier League, with spells at Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham.

At Fulham, he has maintained a win rate of 47.4% and continues to push the club towards European qualification, potentially even outperforming Chelsea this season.

His tactical stability and proven ability to compete in the Premier League are key factors in his favour, particularly if Chelsea opt for a more settled, lower-risk appointment compared to some of their higher-profile targets.

Oliver Glasner

Oliver Glasner is firmly in the conversation after impressing at Crystal Palace, where he has enhanced his reputation for organisation and game management.

Glasner’s record stands at 31 wins, 28 draws and 27 defeats from 86 matches, alongside a strong reputation for delivering results in knockout competitions.

He has already lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt and could add further silverware if Palace progress in the Europa Conference League, adding to an FA Cup triumph within a four-year span.

However, his outspoken personality is believed to be a potential concern for Chelsea, and while he is respected internally, there is a sense he may represent a more divisive appointment among supporters compared to other names on the list.

Filipe Luís

Filipe Luís is viewed as a more left-field candidate but remains an intriguing option due to his rapid rise in coaching.

A former Chelsea player during the 2014–15 Premier League title-winning season, Filipe Luís has already lifted the Copa Libertadores in 2025, underlining his early success in management.

Chelsea are known to have previously shown interest when considering replacements in other roles within the BlueCo group, including Strasbourg, and he remains admired internally.

One major obstacle is his lack of a UEFA Pro Licence, although reports suggest efforts are being made to fast-track his qualification through official channels.

While his appointment would be seen by some supporters as a gamble, his tactical ideas and familiarity with Chelsea’s environment keep him in the wider discussion.

Where Chelsea stand

Chelsea are not believed to have settled on a clear frontrunner at this stage, with Iraola, Alonso and Silva all still in active contention alongside Glasner and Filipe Luís.

The final decision is expected to hinge on whether the club prioritise elite pedigree, Premier League experience or long-term tactical project building, with discussions set to continue in the coming weeks.