Real Madrid: The two leading candidates for the manager’s seat?
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane could decide to step down at the end of the tumultuous 2020-2021 season, as the president’s vision of the sporting project in Madrid seems to differ from what Zidane has in mind.
There is also the matter of a lack of support amidst a youth movement, as Zidane finds himself under fire whenever the team struggles when these sorts of struggles are normal for a rebuilding squad like this one. It’s hard to imagine Los Blancos pushing the legend out, so he may decide to walk away on his own terms for a second time.
Plenty of names have swirled around about possible replacements if it were to come down to that, and Cadena SER’s Anton Meana (report in Spanish) brings up two notable names who could become Real Madrid’s next manager.
Per the report from Cadena SER’s El Larguero, official sources close to Real Madrid state that club legend Raul is ready for the job. Raul was praised for winning the UEFA Youth League last season. Cadena SER’s report describes Raul as “the favorite”.
Raul and Allegri would be strong hires by Real Madrid
But they also mention former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri as a prime candidate. Allegri accomplished a great deal in Turin, and Real Madrid are undoubtedly familiar with his work, having been knocked out by him once in the semifinals of the Champions League.
Allegri was linked to PSG and Chelsea, but the former chose Mauricio Pochettino and the latter Thomas Tuchel. So Allegri remains the best available free agent manager.
Cadena SER reports that if Real Madrid were to go with an experienced hire instead of promoting Raul from within, then Allegri “stands out”. His manageable salary demands and positive relationship with the Royal Whites are mentioned as additional factors.
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For most Madridistas, RB Leipzig’s coaching genius Julian Nagelsmann is an ideal candidate, though he may still want to wait before making such a jump. Allegri would be a splashy hire, but Raul just might be the best option. He showed he can work well with the current crop of young players, and promoting a well-respected young manager from within could be the right move for Los Merengues.