Xabi Alonso's spell at Real Madrid was short and sweet, but he still left a lasting impression at the Bernabeu, including on Jude Bellingham.
Alonso was unveiled as Chelsea's new manager on Sunday after signing a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge, and the Spaniard will officially join on July 1.
Chelsea fans are excited about a managerial appointment for the first time in a while, seeing the 44-year-old as a possible candidate to bring trophy-winning success back to West London after a disappointing campaign.
The Blues need a miracle in the final two games to finish in the European places, and their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup final confirmed they will end the 2025/26 campaign trophy-less.
But with Alonso arriving as arguably the most high-profile and exciting appointment of the BlueCo era, there is confidence he can bring the glory days back to the club.
What Jude Bellingham has said about Xabi Alonso
BlueCo deserve credit for persuading Alonso to join a team that could be without European football in 2026/27, largely because the Spaniard was named manager rather than head coach.
Finally, the board have realised that the boss requires more control over decisions, including in the transfer window. That was what ultimately persuaded the former Bayer Leverkusen manager to join, and the opportunities for success are endless.
Alonso went a full campaign unbeaten with Leverkusen in 2023/24 to win the Bundesliga title before leaving in 2025 to join Real Madrid. Although he was sacked in January, lasting just seven months in the dugout, he was still hugely popular with the players.
"The way he interacts on the pitch, he’s so active, he’s moving," Bellingham said. He involves himself so he can see and feel the game better. And when you see a coach like that, you’re just drawn to his energy.
"He’s got a great way of talking to the players. The thing that draws me to him is his energy towards football."
Energy and ambition are two components Chelsea have lacked this season, but Alonso's winning mentality and player management can make him successful at Stamford Bridge.
When is Alonso's first game in charge of Chelsea?
Chelsea supporters will feel a sense of excitement about the Alonso era and will want to see his 3-4-3 system in action as soon as possible.
The Blues are hoping to get their new manager in attendance for the penultimate Premier League fixture of the campaign against Tottenham on Tuesday, but it's going to be a few months before they see his tactics in action.
Their pre-season campaign kicks off in Australia, with Alonso's first game in charge coming against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28 before returning to Sydney for a clash with rivals Spurs.
Four days later, the tour moves to Hong Kong and a clash against Juventus, before ending their pre-season campaign on August 8 against AC Milan.
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