Real Madrid have commenced their search for next permanent manager, after officially sacking their head coach Julen Lopetegui on Monday night.
As previously announced, the reigning European champions made their decision to part ways with Lopetegui after the former Spain boss had overseen the club’s worst start to a season since 2009. Lopetegui was shown the exit door after only 14 games in charge which makes him the coach that lasted the shortest time during Florentino Perez’s reign.
Te 5-1 El Clasico drubbing proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Julen Lopetegui even though the Spaniard had it coming for quite some time.
As Real Madrid begin the hunt for a permanent solution at the helm, Santiago Solari has been installed as Lopetegui’s interim replacement and will try to steady the sinking ship until the final decision has been made.
As things stand at the moment, the 42-year-old former Real Madrid player – who’s being promoted from the Madrid B team – is standing as the firm favourite to be made a permanent manager of Real Madrid. With 8/1 betting odds stacked in his favour, the Argentinean leads the line ahead of a series of more established names that have been thrown into the mix.
Florentino Perez’s intention is to go for a well-known, authority name but he will to bide his time and choose his next step wisely in order to avoid any problems within Real Madrid’s big-ego dressing room.
List of Candidates
Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was widely expected to take over at Real Madrid but the deal to bring the Italian to Santiago Bernabeu faltered after key first-team figures expressed lack of support and made sure to have their opposition known.
Antonio Conte seems to have decided against taking the role after getting a glimpse inside the Real Madrid locker room atmosphere but still remains in the running for the vacant position. The Italian has now dropped down to third place when it comes to betting odds with 5/1 next to his name.
Unsurprisingly, the name of Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been added to the list of favourites to take over at Santiago Bernabeu and the Spurs boss is currently the bookies’ second choice with a 2/1 price.
The Argentinean has been linked with Real Madrid move for quite a while now but has reiterated his Tottenham commitment by signing a neaw deal earlier this year. Pochettino has made steady progress with the Spurs but seems to have hit the ceiling at the London-based club.
The lack of squad investment this summer seems to have prevented Tottenham from launching a serious Premier League challenge as club chairman Daniel Levy shifted the entire focus to building a new stadium. With a debate over Tottenham are lacking ambition to become proper contenders wide open, Mauricio Pochettino could consider his position at the club and make what would obviously be a huge step forward in his managerial career.
The former Espanyol boss has been received widespread praise for his approach, tactical ideas and promoting young talent at Tottenham and these are the attributes that could be of huge appeal for Real Madird hierarchy. Despite being promoted into one of the betting favourites to take over at Real Madrid, Pochettino and his five-year deal with the Spurs make a Santiago Bernabeu switch almost impossible due to the compensation Los Blancos would have to pay to get Poch.
Sitting is fourth with 10/1 betting odds to his name we have the former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman put an end to his two-decade spell at Arsenal last summer and has yet to find a new club. The Frenchman has been approached by several Europe’s top sides and was expected to make his final decision in January but the recent developments at Real Madrid could see him jump back into the dugout sooner than expected. At 68 years of age, Wenger could be the ideal short-term solution and perhaps the ideal candidate with his vast knowledge, experience and expertise.
One of the biggest surprises within the list of top-five candidates to replace Lopetegui is definitely Roberto Martinez.
Available at a 12/1 price, the Belgium head coach is said to be a preferred choice of an influential group within Santiago Bernabeu. Having guided Belgium to the World Cup semifinals after introducing a visually appealing attacking style of football, the former Everton boss is not regarded as a firm favourite for the job though.
Who do you believe would be the ideal candidate for Real Madrid?
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