It is the Christmas break in La Liga and Real Madrid’s poor season continues. In the last game of the calender year Jose dropped Iker Casillas against Málaga and it turned out to be an almighty gamble – and it backfired spectacularly with a 3-2 defeat.
So in all likeliness, Jose is set to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season even if he lifts the Champions League. So who will be his successor next season?
Arsene Wenger :
It is understood that the hierarchy in Madrid are keen to poach Wenger from the Gunners since the 63-year-old began experiencing pressure on his job at the Emirates due to his side’s dismal campaign.
The Frenchman will forever be a legend at the Emirates but patience is wearing thin with Wenger. His reluctance to spend money on top drawer players, letting his big name stars leave and the lack of silverware is really starting to grate on the Arsenal fans.
His style of football would be most welcome but the main question will be whether or not he lost that cutting edge when it comes to winning trophies.
Rafa Benitez :
Chelsea fans have made it clear that Rafa Benitez is not welcome there, yet the Spanish giants of Real Madrid would take Rafa in an instant. No matter what trophy Rafa wins this year with Chelsea, he will be leaving at the end of the season. He is an interim manager there and will be available at the end of the season.
Madrid fans on the other hand would be happy if Rafa manages them. He is Spanish, not a Catalan and it is likely he will mix well with the players and restore the much important team chemistry in the squad.
Benitez was in charge of Real Madrid’s B team for two years in the 90s before achieving great success with Valencia. He then headed to these shores with Liverpool and guided them to two Champions League final appearances, beating AC Milan in sensational fashion in 2005.
Despite his failure at Inter, he boasts of a fancy CV enough to get him a job at Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti
The former Chelsea and current PSG manager is also linked with a move to Madrid. If he fails to win the French League this season, he could well be sacked. After investing heavily in the last two years, PSG would want to win at least the League title before thinking about the Champions League.
Ancelotti has never managed in Spain and would surely love the opportunity to manage at the Bernabeu.
Ancelotti is a cultured and experienced football boss who demands respect and gets players running through walls for him. He will quickly become a fan favorite as he was in Milan and Chelsea and that would be a welcome move to the Madristas.
Michael Laudrup
Though the current Swansea boss adapted himself well in England, nothing can beat the offer from Real Madrid. He is one of those rare players who played for both Real and Barca and knows the Spanish game inside out.
Joachim Low was linked with Madrid until recently. But his statement of disinterest in the Madrid job makes him an unlikely target.
Others linked are Fabio Capello,Jurgen Klopp, Laurent Blanc and Aitor Karanka(current assistant manager).