So Carlo Ancelotti is off on the move again, with the president of the Brazilian FA confirming that the Italian will take over as head coach of the Brazil national team from 2024. It all means that the coming campaign will be his last in his second stint with Real Madrid.
The post in Madrid is the biggest on offer for a coach at club level but you don’t always see the most revered managers in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout.
There are many different avenues Los Blancos could take to replace the four-time Champions League winning manager, but their main priority is getting a coach who can get the best out of the young talent that the club has been blessed with for the foreseeable future.
Here are six options for the Spanish giants to consider.
Jurgen Klopp
The German tactician has been lauded for his accomplishments with Liverpool over the past eight years, winning all four major trophies on offer. Klopp is renowned for getting the best out of young players and developing them, with Trent Alexander-Arnold one of his most notable pupils.
With the likes of Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga and the potential of Kylian Mbappe down the line, this could be a project calling for Klopp.
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Julian Nagelsmann
After his surprise exit from Bayern Munich a few months ago, Julian Nagelsmann was linked with both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur but both clubs went in different directions, appointing Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou respectively.
The young coach likes to play attractive, high intensity football and his stock hasn’t really taken a hit despite being sacked by Bayern. Given that he is currently unattached, Nagelsmann could be the most straightforward appointment Los Blancos could line up for 2024-25.
Jose Mourinho
Could the Special One have one last big job in him? Jose Mourinho is no stranger to Real Madrid having managed the club between 2010 and 2013, winning one La Liga title during his first reign. The Roma boss’ future has been speculated upon in recent weeks and while his methods may start to be labelled as dated, he might just have one last chance in a high profile role.
The Portuguese’s track record of delivering trophies once spoke for itself and that is exactly what Los Blancos demand, although the Roma boss has been restricted to a single Conference League title in six years.
Zinedine Zidane
Having managed Real Madrid twice already in the past seven years, you can never write off club icon Zinedine Zidane taking charge of the club again at some point in the future. Zidane assisted Ancelotti during the Italian’s first spell in charge. He then led the club’s B team for two years before replacing Rafael Benitez in 2016.
Zidane delivered the historic three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 and is a cult hero in this part of the Spanish capital. Madrid’s new star signing Jude Bellingham idolised the Frenchman growing up and inherited his iconic number five shirt at the Bernabeu. The England star would be very happy to work with his hero at some point in the future.
Raul
Like Zidane, Raul is a legendary figure around these parts. The former forward has been coaching at Real Madrid for the past four years, ranging from the academy to the B team. If history is anything to go by, given Zidane’s step up to the club’s top job, Madrid could be in for a successful transition if Raul were to be handed his first senior command at Santiago Bernabeu.
Didier Deschamps
It may seem like a long shot but France boss Didier Deschamps could be a smart appointment by Real Madrid. After spending over a decade in charge of Les Bleus, winning one World Cup and leading the team to two other major finals, the Frenchman would be considered hot property if he were to decide to step back into club management.
Deschamps implemented an attractive style of football with the French national team that wouldn’t look out of place with Los Blancos, particularly when he would be reunited with star midfielders Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
