Alonso heals Real Madrid scars to lead Chelsea's senior revolution

Xabi Alonso, the 44-year-old Spanish football legend, continues to make waves in his coaching career with Chelsea. Watching him train his team, one cannot help but recall his playing days at Liverpool and Real Madrid, where he won the World Cup in 2010. In Sydney, Australia, during a pre-season tour, Alonso has impressed his players with his ball-playing skills and cross-field passes at Sky Park.

He attributes his coaching style to the long path he took, inspired by his father, Periko Alonso, a fellow Spain international and former Real Sociedad and Barcelona player.

Alonso's journey to Chelsea was not a straight shot to the top level. He started in the under-14s and took his time to build his career. After successful stints at Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, Alonso left Real Madrid by mutual consent in 2023, leaving behind only one scar. He is now focused on his new role at Chelsea, where he aims to build a strong team with a culture of collective purpose.

The Chelsea squad recently visited Sydney's refurbished North Sydney Olympic Pool for an Australian winter swim, further emphasizing the team-building efforts of Alonso. Alonso has also signed forward Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, both signings aligning with his vision for the team. Talks are ongoing regarding left-sided option Pep Chavarria of Rayo Vallecano.

As the first manager under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, Alonso's role is to work closely with the club's five sporting directors to ensure a cohesive team strategy.

Chelsea is currently experiencing a senior revolution, with experienced players such as Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson being added to the squad. Welbeck brings experienced cover for Joao Pedro, while Henderson, a former Bayer Leverkusen captain, will help drive standards as a vocal leader. Alonso's unique coaching style, influenced by his collective upbringing in the Basque Country, aims to address cultural issues within the team while maintaining a focus on leadership and indiscipline.