Chelsea have held discussions with Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso as possible candidates to replace Liam Rosenior this summer. The club expects a deeper pool of experienced coaches to be available now than when they last made a summer appointment.
When Enzo Maresca was appointed in June 2024, Kieran McKenna was the only other name on the shortlist and neither candidate had Premier League experience. This time, Chelsea are prioritising managers with top-level pedigrees and/or Premier League know‑how. Iraola has confirmed he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, Alonso is currently without a job, and Silva’s contract at Fulham expires in two months, making all three feasible options.
Chelsea are not planning a rushed decision; Calum McFarlane will continue to oversee the team until the season concludes. The club’s recruitment will consider stability and experience as it looks to rebuild a squad that has struggled for consistency.
Broadcaster and former player Paul Merson has questioned whether a marquee name will take the Stamford Bridge job, arguing that the next coach will be more grateful for the opportunity than Chelsea will be to hire them. A lifelong supporter, Merson suggested the era of attracting proven global stars such as José Mourinho or Carlo Ancelotti may be over for the club. When asked who he would prefer, Merson named Eddie Howe.
Merson warned potential candidates will weigh the scale of the challenge: Chelsea have been physically outpaced in many matches this season despite fielding one of the league’s youngest squads. Reversing that trend, he said, will require substantial work in rebuilding the squad, including bringing in more experienced players.