Xabi Alonso was Chelsea’s head coach for the 2026–27 Premier League opener against Fulham.
Chelsea won the Monday, 24 August 2026 match 3–2 at Craven Cottage. The fixture marked Alonso’s first Premier League match in charge of Chelsea and was also a managerial debut for Fulham head coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
The two coaches were former teammates and close friends, making the London derby a notable touchline meeting. Chelsea survived a competitive match in which João Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scored for the visitors.
Alonso’s name can be confused with Arbeloa’s because both managers had strong links to Spanish football and faced each other in this fixture. The distinction is simple: Alonso led Chelsea, while Arbeloa managed Fulham. Chelsea’s late-August victory therefore began Alonso’s Premier League tenure with three points.