Xabi Alonso confirmed as Chelsea manager on four-year contract

• Former Liverpool and Madrid midfielder starts on 1 July

• Alonso feels ‘immense pride to be manager of great club’

Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager. The Spaniard has signed a four-year deal and will start work in pre season. He becomes the sixth permanent manager of the BlueCo era.

The former Real Madrid head coach will take charge of the Blues from 1 July in what is his first managerial role in the Premier League. Callum McFarlane has been in interim charge since the sacking of Liam Rosenior last month and was on the touchline for Chelsea’s FA Cup final loss to Manchester City on Saturday.