Rio Ferdinand has admitted he is 'surprised' that Xabi Alonso has become the new Chelsea manager, suggesting the former Liverpool midfielder should have been 'patient enough' to wait for a possible opportunity at Anfield.
Alonso Appointed Chelsea Boss
Chelsea ended weeks of speculation on Sunday by confirming that Alonso had signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge. The 44-year-old Spaniard replaces Liam Rosenior, who was dismissed after just 107 days in charge last month. Interim boss Calum McFarlane has been leading the team, and Alonso will officially take over on July 1 for the 2026/27 season.
Alonso has been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid in mid-January following a Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona. Despite his short stint at the Bernabeu, he is highly regarded for his remarkable success at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga and competed strongly against Bayern Munich.
Ferdinand's Reaction
Discussing the appointment on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: 'I'm actually surprised he's gone there. I thought he would have been patient enough to wait and see how the Arne Slot situation at Liverpool would play out. Ex-Liverpool player, loved the club, always speaks well about the club, and you just think that was a relationship waiting to happen behind the scenes.'
Ferdinand added: 'If he'd just sat tight, the way things are going at the moment, surely he's next in the queue to get that job. But Chelsea have acted quickly, they've probably put something in front of him with some big numbers that has turned his head.'
The former Manchester United defender believes Alonso's primary task will be to unite the Chelsea squad after a disappointing Premier League campaign. 'I'm looking forward to seeing what he's doing. What he did at Bayer Leverkusen can't be sniffed at. He knows how to put a team together. Chelsea needs somebody who can bring a group of players together and harness the talent within the club.'
Neville's Take
Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, suggested that Alonso's move indicates Liverpool will keep Arne Slot as manager. 'It did tell me that Liverpool are going to keep their manager for next season, which I'm happy about. A manager who won the league 12 months ago deserves an opportunity to get it right.'
Slot's position had been under pressure, but reports suggest Liverpool will stick with him if they secure Champions League qualification, which could happen if Bournemouth lose to Manchester City.
