Following the news that Real Madrid have disposed of yet another manager, there will undoubtedly be a slew of speculation in the coming weeks over who will take over the mantle from Carlo Ancelotti.
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After two seasons in charge in the Spanish capital, which saw him collect a Champions League, Copa Del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA World Club Cup, he ultimately payed the price for missing out on beating Barcelona to the La Liga title.
There are already a few names being tipped to take over the role, and below we’ve listed the mist likely suspects.
Rafa Benitez – Napoli
The 55-year-old is already being claimed to be the favourite to take over from Ancelotti, as speculation linking him with an exit from Napoli has been ongoing for some time now.
A former coach with Real Madrid Castilla, he has the requisite European pedigree that the club will require, but also the steely pragmatism that will win the club the league titles they have so sorely been missing out on.
Arsene Wenger – Arsenal
Wenger has been linked with the Madrid job for some time, and he recently revealed why he rejected the chance to take over at the club.
However, the walls have been closing in on him at Arsenal again this term, perhaps more noticeably than before, and he could be advised to jump before he is pushed. Madrid manager’s only last for two season’s on average, though, so he may not want to join a club where there will be no long term project.
Jurgen Klopp – Unattached
Klopp announced that he would be stepping down from the Borussia Dortmund post at the end of the season having taken them as far as he could.
Despite saying that he intends to take a six-month hiatus from football, there will inevitably be a clamour for his signature as his dynamic brand of football and close ties to many coveted Dortmund stars will make him a highly attractive prospect.
Manuel Pellegrini – Manchester City
The Chilean has endured a tough year in the Northwest, failing to defend his title, pick up a domestic cup or make an impact in Europe.
He has been told that his job at the Etihad is safe (for now) but having previously managed the club, he could be tempted back. His stock is still high in Spain, but at 61 he may be too old to be anything other than a short term appointment.
Zinedine Zidane
The club legend is already managing the Castilla side, just like Benitez did before him, and he is actively being groomed into a future boss of the first team.
Is he ready for it yet, though? He will do well to look at the likes of Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi, who have both struggled to successfully manage a club they shone so brightly at as players.