Whether their time in charge went good or bad, being the manager at Real Madrid is something all managers want to have on their CV. Managing the biggest club in the world is the goal for many managers, and even if they end up getting sacked, it can still be a launching point for future jobs in the careers. And for one former Real Madrid manager, he's now the favorite to take over at his boyhood club.
As reported by Transfer News Live, former Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari is one of the favorites to take over as River Plate's new manager, the club where he began his playing career back in 1996.
Ex-Madrid boss could return to management
The Argentine was promoted from Castilla and appointed as Real Madrid's caretaker manager in October of 2018, before landing the permanent role in November of that same year, before ultimately getting sacked in March of 2019 following Real's disastrous Champions League round of 16 elimination to Ajax and a Copa del Rey elimination that same week.
In total, Solari took charge of 32 matches at Real, winning 22, drawing two, and losing eight, roughly a 69% win rate. He led the club to victory in the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2018, and that was the only piece of silverware he brought to the team.
The 49-year-old showed some bright moments in charge of Los Blancos, winning his first four games in charge, but in the end, he was in way over his head, and the role was too much for him. Solari is still at Real, serving as the Director of Professional Football since November 2022.
Solari has again been mentioned as a candidate for Real's permanent role once the summer roles around, but given his time in charge not going all that well all those years ago, the likelihood of him getting the role is close to zero.
Jurgen Klopp remains the frontrunner to become the club's next boss should Alvaro Arbeloa not be kept on. The Spaniard is currently in charge on a caretaker basis.
As a result clubs from around the world are considering Solari including his boyhood club River Plate. Current manager Marcelo Gallardo could leave in the summer to make the jump to a top European club, and as a result Solari is on there radar as a replacement. This would mark Solari's return to top flight management since managing Mexico's Club America from January of 2021 to March of 2022.