Xabi Alonso led Chelsea in their 3–2 away win at Fulham during the 2026–27 Premier League opening round.
Chelsea defeated Fulham at Craven Cottage on 24 August 2026, in the final match of the opening round. Alonso was Chelsea’s incoming head coach, having been appointed on 1 July 2026.
The match was also a managerial debut for Álvaro Arbeloa, who took charge of Fulham. The pairing attracted attention because both coaches had prominent playing careers in Spain and had moved into senior management.
Chelsea’s victory made Alonso’s first Premier League match in charge a winning one. It should not be confused with Enzo Maresca, who had become Manchester City’s manager, or Michael Carrick, who was leading Manchester United.