Chelsea make their move to hire “world-class” manager who’s better than Iraola

Under BlueCo, Chelsea‘s average Premier League finish is 7th. Their pedigree among Europe’s elite has been diluted over the past several years, with so much inconsistency overwhelming their evergreen knack for winning trophies.

That, at least, speaks of the winning culture that has been dyed into the fabric of Stamford Bridge’s senior squad, but after Nottingham Forest dispatched caretaker manager Calum McFarlane’s struggling side on Monday afternoon, condemning them to a sixth straight league defeat, Chelsea have sadly reached a new low.

It can’t go on like this. The Blues are ninth in the standings and facing a 2026/27 campaign devoid of European football. Something needs to change, and while Chelsea have had no problem hiring managers over the past several years, this time, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali cannot make a mess of their next appointment.

Chelsea ready to hire new manager

Chelsea might be in a state of purgatory on the pitch, but they remain one of the most ambitious projects in the world, and any number of top managers would have their interest piqued if approached.

Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is on the radar, though it may be that the Spaniard doesn’t quite fit the mould that BlueCo have set at Stamford Bridge. Some might say that mould needs breaking, but a streamlined approach that hands coaches more time could make a big difference.

Perhaps that’s why interest is mounting in Xavi, the legendary Barcelona figure who won so much during his playing days in Catalan and then led the La Liga side to the league title from the dugout.

According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, Xavi’s ball-playing football would align with the identity that was developed under Enzo Maresca. Cesc Fabregas also fits the bill in this regard, but his former Spain teammate could be the better, more mature pick at this stage.

Xavi is reported to be on their shortlist, and while he has been out of management for a while, he has previously said that he “would love to work in the Premier League“.

Further reports from journalist Ben Jacobs suggest that a ‘formal approach’ has already been made to the Barcelona legend, who is ‘open’ to moving to England, thus backing up his previous quotes.

Why Chelsea should hire Xavi over Iraola

Culture. It’s so important in football. Chelsea do not have a culture, and while Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has been scathing to the point of derision concerning Chelsea in the past, he did have a point when dissecting McFarlane’s side’s loss against Forest.

Iraola is a talented young coach, but he would deviate away from the coaching ideology set over the past several years, bringing a more intense, full-throttle gameplan to the table.

That’s by no means inherently negative, but if Chelsea want to develop a culture, it makes sense that they should be seeking a recognisable identity on the field that transcends the vision of the manager in the dugout.

This time, though, someone like Xavi needs to be given sufficient time to build a dynasty at Stamford Bridge, and though he has been out of work since parting with Barcelona in 2023, the La Liga-winning manager has the potential to become one of the best in the business.

Lauded as a “world-class” coach by journalist Maynard Manyowa, the 46-year-old could benefit from a job with a club removed from emotional attachment. That would develop and deepen over a number of years with Chelsea, but he needs to enter the scene with a clear vision that is not muddied by past feelings.

The same would be true for Iraola, of course, but the Basque native hasn’t yet entered the very top of the game. Managing Chelsea is a whole different ball game, as the likes of Graham Potter and Liam Rosenior would attest to. Enzo Maresca fostered his managerial ability as Pep Guardiola’s protege at Manchester City, and it showed.

He might be relatively inexperienced, but Xavi got Barca playing some beautiful football in his favoured 4-3-3 shape, and while he is an exponent of that tiki taka style, the Spanish legend has detailed in the past his belief that a healthy and united dressing room is more important than the finer points on the tactical board.