Just five months on from Champions League glory, Real Madrid are in crisis.
New manager Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked as Spain boss before the World Cup for accepting Los Blancos job, has won just five of his 12 games in charge and is on a three game losing streak. According to reports, chairman Florentino Pérez’ microscopic patience has already run out.
Rumours suggest he could be sacked before Sunday’s El Classico – and while that seems unlikely, Real Madrid are seemingly on the look-out for a replacement. Here are five big names that have been touted for the hallowed job:
Antonio Conte
Lopetegui’s hiring was always a strange one. Beyond his unbeaten tenure with Spain, which saw the European champs qualify for the World Cup, his short managerial career has been trophy-less and underwhelming. He nearly ended up at Wolves before his country came calling.
If Real Madrid are looking for a steadier hand to guide Real Madrid through a post-Ronaldo transition, Antonio Conté is the answer. He revitalised Chelsea following Jose Mourinho’s predictably turbulent third season, leading them to a record-breaking title win. He even revolutionised Premier League tactics with his patented three man defence. That’s not to mention his Serie B win with Bari, promotion with Siena and total Serie A dominance with Juventus, where he won three titles in a row.
One stumbling block may be his protracted legal issues with Chelsea. He was sacked with 12 months and £9 million left on his contract, and Real would have to broker a deal with the Blues if they want to hire their man. He also has a habit of clashing with the board at his various clubs, and his last few months at Chelsea were defined by a public apathy that could worry his suitors.
Arsene Wenger
Former Arsenal boss Wenger said he would decide his future in January, but he might shift that deadline forward a few months thanks to a slew of potential job vacancies.
The Frenchman has thrown his support behind Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovač, following reports that he could replace the under-fire Croatian. For their part, Bayern distanced themselves from the rumours, lambasting the German press for “slanderous reporting”. Still, Bayern are falling behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, and Wenger is odds-on for the job.
Wenger has been courted by Florentino Perez for nearly two decades, and the Gunners legend has refused every time. It’s a decision that he seemingly regrets, telling SportBild earlier this week: “I was too loyal to Arsenal. I rejected half Europe, Bayern, Real Madrid, Juventus. I wanted to realise my plans at Arsenal. Among other things, to build a new stadium without a single dime from the outside"
Perez reportedly last approached Wenger in 2011, and he could possibly believe that Wenger’s best days are firmly behind him. Maybe Wenger thinks that too, but he’d surely find the job hard to turn down.
Santiago Solari
The former player currently manages Castilla, Real Madrid’s reserve side that plays in Segunda Division B, and he’s expected to take up the job of interim manager after Lopetegui’s sacking. If he leads Los Blancos on a good run, who’s to say he won’t be offered the job?
Handing the role to club legends has benefitted both Real and Barcelona over the past decade – though Solari can hardly be held up against Zidane or Guardiola in the legacy stakes.
Jose Mourinho
Last week, long-time Real Madrid target Eden Hazard said that he’d like to reunite with former boss Jose Mourinho. It surprised many, as Hazard was one of the many players who seemingly lost faith in the Portuguese manager during his final season at Chelsea.
The Sun’s Neil Curtis told Sunday Supplement: "It's interesting how this is playing out, he's saying he'd like to play under Jose again, there's going to be a vacancy at Real Madrid very soon, if Manchester United don't pick up there could be a vacancy there, and the president at Real and Jose are very close”
"There was no animosity when he left, he wanted him to stay. It was Mourinho who chose to go, so you could see that all playing out, Mourinho going back to Madrid and Hazard joining him."
Jose Mourinho’s stint at Madrid was a controversial one. He beat Barcelona to La Liga in 2012, but regularly reared controversy in the press and reportedly fell-out with his squad. It really doesn’t seem likely that he’ll return, but as his future with Manchester United hangs in the balance and he might just be one of the only vastly experienced managers on the market. Do Real really want Hazard that much?
Guti
Similarly to Solari, former Real Madrid midfielder Guti returned to the club to take up coaching duties. He managed the under-19s before becoming Senol Gunes’ assistant coach at Besiktas, where he also played.
According to AS, the 41-year old is highly rated within the Madrid hierarchy. He reportedly shares characteristics with Zidane, and shares a close connection with the club’s fans after 16 years of service on the pitch – but would they be happy with a relative amateur taking charge at such an important stage in the season? The whistles wouldn't be far away, even for Guti.
Nick Pope is the Site Director of Esquire, overseeing digital strategy for the brand.
