Xabi Alonso is making a striking impression on his Chelsea squad during their pre-season tour of Australia — and not only from the dugout. The 44-year-old is actively participating in training sessions at Sky Park, the Sydney FC training ground, delivering crisp short passes and launching the sweeping cross-field balls that defined his playing career. Centre-back Levi Colwill admitted he feels "jealous" watching his new manager at work.

A path shaped at home

Alonso's route into coaching was forged long before he picked up a clipboard. His father, Periko Alonso — a former Spain international and ex-player for Real Sociedad and Barcelona — would prepare training sessions at home while a young Xabi stood beside him in the kitchen.

"The road was not unknown for me. I had seen that at home," Alonso said in an interview at a hotel in Sydney's Darling Harbour. "I'm not saying it was meant to be, but I had to try it. I wanted to try it, but not straight to the top level. I started in the under-14s and that was the way I wanted. It felt natural, not to rush."

That patient approach served him well. After guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a historic domestic double in 2024 — their first Bundesliga title and a first DFB-Pokal triumph since 1993 — Alonso was hailed as one of the game's finest young coaches. He described that achievement as "unexpectedly fantastic."

The Real Madrid scar

His spell at Real Madrid, which began in May last year, ended far sooner than anticipated. He departed by mutual consent following reported clashes with key figures at the club, including Vinicius Jr. For a man who has accumulated 15 major titles, it was a rare and painful setback.

"Luckily, there are not too many scars in my career," Alonso said. "I got a scar, now it is healed and I am determined to enjoy this next step as I did when I started in Madrid. For the things that didn't work, I have been very critical of myself, thinking about what I could have done better. You learn from the disappointment of things."

In the four months between leaving Real Madrid and joining Chelsea, Alonso focused on what he described as resetting his energy before committing to his next challenge.

Building something at Stamford Bridge

Alonso held a series of discreet meetings in London and his hometown of San Sebastian over three weeks in May to determine whether Chelsea was the right fit. Despite speculation linking him to his former club Liverpool FC, there was no formal offer from Anfield.

"I had a view of Chelsea from the outside. I could see the positives and my concerns, so I addressed them. We had the same ideas, the same analysis, to start building momentum together," he said, explaining how the conversations with the club's sporting directors aligned with his vision.

That vision has already produced significant transfer activity. Chelsea secured £117m forward Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa despite competition from Premier League champions Arsenal. Full-back Marco Palestra has also arrived from Atalanta, with talks continuing over Rayo Vallecano's left-sided option Pep Chavarria.

A senior revolution

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season, a campaign widely seen as a failure. Alonso, however, believes the underlying situation was better than the final standings suggested and has moved to address the squad's lack of experience and leadership.

Striker Danny Welbeck, 35, is set to join the pre-season squad to provide cover for Joao Pedro and bring dressing-room experience. Midfielder Jordan Henderson, 36, is also expected to arrive, filling a vocal leadership role that Alonso identified as crucial — similar to the part Alonso himself played under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

"You need the right balance of personalities and stages of maturity, with players in their early 20s, early 30s and everything in between," Alonso said of his squad-reshaping philosophy.

Culture, he insists, is equally important. Drawing on his Basque roots, Alonso spoke of instilling a collective sense of purpose that extends beyond the playing staff — he even provided two assists in a staff football match before the squad's overseas trip.

"The situation was not as bad as it looked at the end of last season," Alonso said. "There is big potential to improve and let's see how long it takes."

One month into his tenure, Alonso is encouraged that his plans are beginning to take shape. When asked what ultimately drove him to take the job, he pointed first to his chest, then to his stomach: "It has to come from the gut. I felt it was good timing for the club and good timing for myself."