In his first statement after the appointment, Alonso expressed pride and excitement about joining the club, describing Chelsea as one of the biggest teams in world football.

He said both the ownership and sporting leadership share a common ambition to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and challenging for major trophies.

Alonso also highlighted the quality within the current squad, noting that the club has strong potential which he is eager to develop. He added that his immediate focus will be on hard work, building a strong team culture, and delivering success.

The former Real Madrid coach was reportedly Chelsea’s top target following the departure of Liam Rosenior in April, who lasted just three months in the role. Alonso will serve as “manager” rather than head coach, giving him broader responsibility in shaping the club’s sporting direction.

The announcement came shortly after Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final, with interim coach Calum McFarlane taking charge for that match.

Although there had been speculation linking Alonso with a possible move elsewhere, including interest from Liverpool amid uncertainty over Arne Slot’s future, Chelsea moved quickly to secure his services.

Other names considered for the role reportedly included Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner, Cesc Fabregas, and Felipe Luis.

Alonso becomes the fifth permanent manager under the BlueCo ownership era, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca, and Rosenior.

Chelsea currently sit ninth in the Premier League and face uncertainty over European qualification for next season, with their final league position determining whether they will compete in the Conference League or Europa League.

As a player, Alonso enjoyed a decorated career with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and the Spain national team before retiring in 2017. He began coaching at Real Madrid’s youth level and later managed Real Sociedad B and Bayer Leverkusen, where he achieved remarkable success, including an unbeaten Bundesliga title and a domestic double in the 2023–24 season.

He also had a brief spell at Real Madrid’s senior team before leaving in January following a challenging period that included a Club World Cup semi-final defeat and reported dressing-room tensions.

News reports that Dantalle made the statement on Saturday during an interview on Arise Television, where he addressed the party’s internal structure and ongoing alliance discussions.

He said although political parties require financial backing to operate effectively, the APM would not surrender its control or decision-making powers to influential individuals.

According to him, the party is committed to building an egalitarian political system where all members have equal opportunities and a voice in shaping its direction.

Dantalle stressed that every member matters within the party and that financial contributions would not be allowed to override the party’s principles or democratic processes.

He explained that the APM leadership is focused on strengthening internal democracy rather than encouraging personality-based politics.

Describing the party’s vision, he said the APM is determined to establish a fair political structure where collective participation takes precedence over individual dominance.

Speaking on coalition efforts ahead of the elections, Dantalle said the party’s move toward political alliances is driven by the limited time before the next general polls.

He noted that collaboration with like-minded political groups could improve the party’s electoral prospects, although he did not reveal specific parties currently involved in discussions.

He maintained that any alliance the APM enters into would be guided strictly by its values, principles, and long-term political objectives.

Dantalle also described the APM as one of the few political parties in Nigeria currently operating without internal conflict or major divisions.

According to him, the party’s peaceful structure has been sustained through strict adherence to its constitution and established legal frameworks.