Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso tasked with rescuing 'dysfunctional' $3.5b Chelsea mess

Chelsea have hired Xabi Alonso as manager on a four-year deal starting next season, with the Spaniard returning to coaching after a short, rocky spell at Real Madrid and tasked with bringing stability to a club that has become dysfunctional under its American ownership.

Alonso will formally take charge on July 1 as the replacement for Liam Rosenior, who was fired last month, and will become the fifth permanent coach appointed by Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since they bought the Premier League team in 2022.

Alonso lasted eight months at Madrid before leaving the Spanish giants by mutual consent in January after poor results and widespread media reports that he lost control of a locker room wracked by infighting and disharmony this season.

Football's new home, Stan Sport, is the only place to watch the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, WSL, European World Cup qualifiers, J.League, NSWL and K League

Before that, the former Spain midfielder had built a strong reputation at Bayer Leverkusen, which he led to the German title and an unbeaten domestic campaign in the 2023-24 season, and Chelsea described Alonso as "one of the most respected figures in the modern game."

"From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition," Alonso said in a Chelsea statement.

"We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies."

READ MORE: Latrell officially ruled out of Origin in crushing blow

READ MORE: McGregor announces shock comeback after five years

READ MORE: Starc rocks IPL rivals with incredible three-wicket over

Without a domestic trophy for eight years, Chelsea was European champion as recently as 2021 and won the Club World Cup against most pundits' expectations last summer.

However, Chelsea looks highly unlikely to be in next season's Champions League and might miss out on European competition entirely after a huge dip in form in the second half of the campaign.

The club was guaranteed a trophyless season by losing to Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Sunday (AEST).

"There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it," Alonso said.

"Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies."

Storm clouds are hovering over Chelsea

After an unseemly end to Rosenior's turbulent tenure, Chelsea's ownership said it would be undertaking "a process of self-reflection" ahead of its next coaching appointment, amid growing tension among supporters about the direction of the club and its massive financial concerns following years of heavy spending.

In the four years under Boehly and Clearlake, around $3.5 billion has been spent on new, mostly young and unproven players on long contracts while the club has taken on a debt approaching $2.8 billion, according to figures compiled by The Athletic.

Chelsea's most recent financial results revealed the club made pre-tax losses of $490 million, a record in the Premier League era.

It's with this backdrop that Alonso - who has long been linked with a potential move to Liverpool, another of his former teams - heads to Chelsea, which he described as "one of the biggest clubs in world football."

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is under increasing pressure after a 4-2 loss to Aston Villa at the weekend.

Alonso played 143 games for Liverpool between 2004-09.

"His appointment," Chelsea said, "reflects the club's belief in his broad set of experiences, coaching quality and game model, leadership attributes, character and integrity, which were key to the decision to ask him to help lead the next phase of Chelsea's journey.

"He is regarded not only as an outstanding football coach, but also as a proven leader and partner across a number of areas essential to the demands of driving the team."

Chelsea has two games left this season - against Tottenham and Sunderland in the Premier League - for which interim coach Calum McFarlane will stay in charge.

West Ham on brink of relegation

West Ham's 14-year stay in the Premier League is almost over.

The London club lost 3-1 at Newcastle on Monday (AEST) to stay in the relegation zone and two points from safety with one match left, against Leeds at its Olympic Stadium home in the final round next week.

The Hammers will be relegated before then if Tottenham - the only other team that can mathematically go down - beats Chelsea away on Wednesday (AEST) in the first of their two remaining games.

A draw at Stamford Bridge would also likely be enough for Spurs, given their goal difference is far superior to West Ham's.

Tottenham's second chance is at home to Everton in the final round.

West Ham has been in the top flight since 2012, coming through a number of relegation battles in that time.

This one looks beyond the team - three years after they won the Conference League title for their first major trophy since 1980 in a sign of brighter things to come.

Newcastle scored twice in the first 19 minutes, through Nick Woltemade and William Osula.

Osula added a third in the 65th minute before a brilliant long-range consolation by Taty Castellanos, who also hit the crossbar for West Ham.

Fernandes equals assist record after controversy

Bruno Fernandes grabbed his record-equalling 20th assist of the Premier League season to help Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in an end-to-end match featuring the latest VAR controversy.

Bryan Mbeumo's 76th-minute goal proved to be decisive and was set up by Fernandes, who moved level with Arsenal great Thierry Henry (2002-03) and former Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne (2019-20) for most assists in a single Premier League campaign.

The Portugal midfielder has one game left to set the outright record - at Brighton next weekend.

United had earlier gone in front for the second time in the game when Matheus Cunha stroked home a finish in the 55th minute after Mbeumo controlled the ball using his outstretched arm before having a shot blocked.

The goal was awarded by the on-field referee and he stuck to his decision - judging the contact accidental - after the VAR recommended he look at the incident again on the pitchside monitor.

The win guaranteed third place - and one of the Premier League's five Champions League qualification spots - for United and it was another step in the right direction under Michael Carrick, who is widely expected to be hired as permanent manager in the coming days after a successful four-month spell in charge.

This was Carrick's 11th win in 16 games at the helm, with only two losses in that period.

Luke Shaw gave United the lead in the fifth minute and Morato equalised in the 53rd.

Cunha's contentious goal regained the lead for the hosts and Mbeumo made it 3-1, before Morgan Gibbs-White pulled another goal back for Forest, whose safety was assured last week.

It was Brazil midfielder Casemiro's final home match for United after four years with the team, and he received a standing ovation when he was walked off the field after being substituted in the 81st minute.

Brighton loses in tight race for European positions

In the race to qualify for European competitions, seventh-placed Brighton missed the chance to jump to sixth after losing 1-0 at Leeds, whose winner came from England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin - a World Cup hopeful - in stoppage time.

Eighth-placed Brentford equalised late - through Dango Ouattara for his second of the match - in a 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace and moved one point behind Brighton.

Sunderland is a further point back in ninth after winning 3-1 at Everton courtesy of three second-half goals.

The teams finishing in sixth and seventh place are set to qualify for the Europa League, with eighth place seemingly going into the Conference League.

Fulham drew 1-1 at already-relegated Wolverhampton thanks to a penalty converted by US left back Antonee Robinson for his first Premier League goal.

- with Sam Worthington