One of the most coveted managers in Europe might be waiting for Real Madrid
Real Madrid fans are happy with the job veteran manager Carlo Ancelotti is doing as the man in charge of the club. It was Carlo who wanted to return, asking the club if they were interested in him as a safe replacement for Zinedine Zidane, who stepped down after a grueling 2020-2021 season.
Ancelotti has already achieved his main goal of helping Vinicius Junior become a superstar. The Italian manager’s main goal has been to help set Los Blancos up for their next era of greatness, and he has indeed transformed this team into a more confident attacking side.
Madridistas would love for Ancelotti to remain with the club for one more season. He has earned getting to manage Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, and potentially even Erling Haaland together. Ancelotti has done so much for this club.
But at some point, Real will have to hire a new manager with new ideas who can get that next era going. Julian Nagelsmann was the dream, but Bayern Munich wisely paid RB Leipzig in order to secure his services. He is locked in and doing very well for Die Roten.
So the top choice is off the table, but another great, modern-day manager who has been waiting for a bigger opportunity could be patiently standing by until the Real Madrid job is open and fully attractive with the new project.
Erik ten Hag’s contract runs out when Real Madrid could be in the market again
According to Fabrizio Romano, Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has not reciprocated Manchester United’s interest in him. His plan is “clear” and it is to respect his contract with Ajax.
That contract ends after the next season, 2022-2023. Ten Hag, if this is his plan, will be free to finally choose a big club. Like Nagelsmann, ten Hag has been selective and patient with making a leap. Resisting United’s overtures is part of that. It is clear that ten Hag, if he is to leave Ajax, would only leave for a high-profile situation with the right pieces in place.
Tell me there isn’t a better dream job to prove yourself as the world’s most successful tactician than this one? Real Madrid. The new Santiago Bernabeu. Mbappe. Vinicius. Eduardo Camavinga. Fede Valverde. Eder Militao. Erling Haaland? Achraf Hakimi? Paul Pogba? So many possibilities.
Ten Hag may just be biding his time for this moment, when Ancelotti rides off into the sunset after a second great stint with Real Madrid and the most prestigious job in football is his for the taking. The 51-year-old has done an amazing job with Ajax, creating an attacking juggernaut that plays with every proven, successful modern-day approach to maintaining and dominating possession productively. Ten Hag gets the most out of talented players like Sebastian Haller and Antony, who could even follow him to Real.
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If there is one manager to watch, it may just be ten Hag. He has not been swayed by any clubs, and his contract will end at a time when Ancelotti may leave with his head held high. We are thinking well into the future and anything can happen in football, but astute fans are always thinking ahead. Ten Hag is a name to stow away for the future.