Despite being top of the La Liga standings and into the knockout phase of the Champions League, there have been calls for the curtain to fall on Carlo Ancelotti’s second term as Real Madrid manager.
There have also been recent media reports that Carlo’s told Los Blanos’ head honchos that he’s happy to make his exist at the end of the season.
Let’s have a look at some of the likely next Real Madrid manager contenders.
Xabi Alonso
Former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool midfield maestro Xabi Alonso is odds-on to take the hot seat when Ancelotti does depart.
A Champions League and La Liga winner with Lost Blancos, he would undoubtedly be a popular pick among the fans. He cut his teeth managing Real Sociedad B between 2019-22 before taking over at Bayer Leverkusen, where he pulled off the seemingly impossible, winning their first-ever Bundesliga title as well as a DFB-Pokal.
It seems like it’s written in the stars, but saying that, when Jurgen Klopp handed in his Liverpool notice, fans of the Reds thought the same thing.
Raul
Next in the betting odds is another former Real Madrid legend, Raul. With 228 goals over 550 professional appearances, he’s be a popular-enough pick.
Managerial-wise, though, does he have the chops? Well, Real President Florentino Pérez loves to promote from within, and he’s been part of the academy setup for a few years now. He’s been managing the Castilla, or B, side since June 2019, overseeing 190 matches at the time of writing.
Sure, Xabi will be first choice but Pérez’s Plan B looks like it’ll be one of Real favourites sons.
Santiago Solari
Santiago Solari is another one from within the ranks of the Real Madrid setup. One of a rare breed of players who have played for both Atletico and Real (46 and 131 appearances, respectively). Following his retirement, he worked in the academy from 2013 to 2019, so he knows the club inside and out.
From 2020-2022, he was manager at Mexico City’s América, where he brought them to a CONCACAF Champions League Final where another Mexican side, Monterrey, beat them 1-0.
Zinedine Zidane
Third time’s a charm, eh? Then again, hasn’t Zuzu only been brought in when the club has been in crisis?
Saying that, however, he could well have the magic French words to get the best out of Kylian Mbappe, whose Real Madrid career didn’t exactly get off to the best of starts, and he’s only playing well of late because Vini Junior has been sidelined.
He’s won everything at Real, and he’s one of the best footballers of all time. Who wouldn’t want him back?
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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