4 Coaches Who Could Replace Carlo Ancelotti if Real Madrid Fires Him
by by Chukwu Ikechukwu · Legit.ng News · Join- Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has come under scrutiny in the last few weeks after poor results
- The La Liga champions have lost 4-0 and 3-1 at home to Barcelona and AC Milan, eliciting criticism from fans
- Some have questioned Ancelotti's position, with others calling for the club to dismiss the veteran coach
Real Madrid have made a slow start to the season.
Their two home defeats to bitter rivals Barcelona and AC Milan have put Carlo Ancelotti in a precarious position.
Several coaches, including former boss Zinedine Zidane, have been linked to the role.
The Spanish giants won La Liga and Champions League last season. Still, their humiliating 4-0 home loss to Barcelona in El Clasico has resulted in intense criticism towards the players and coach.
The defeat was followed by a frustrating 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League. The club has struggled to adapt to the Toni Kroos retirement, and Kylian Mbappe has not met the lofty expectations after joining from Paris Saint-Germain.
There have been discussions about replacing Ancelotti, who is coaching the club for a second spell. Here are four coaches who could replace him.
Possible Ancelotti replacements at Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso
Alonso had a breakthrough season as a coach with Bayer Leverkusen last season. He won the Bundesliga without losing a game. He played under Ancelotti at Real Madrid and is considered one of the best upcoming coaches in world football. He also reached the Europa League final and won the DFB Pokal trophy.
Alosno's Leverkusen play an attractive game, but he would likely prefer joining the club at the end of the season, especially considering he recently signed a deal until 2026, per 90min. He has already proven himself at the top level and will seamlessly fit at Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane
The French World Cup winner and Real Madrid legend is still an option, although he has coached the club in two different spells. He won two La Liga titles and three Champions League, and club president Florentino Perez would hire him in a heartbeat.
However, considering how the last one ended, he might not return for a third spell.
"I am leaving because I feel that the club no longer gives me the confidence I need, it does not offer me the support to build something in the medium or long term," he said in an open letter via Forbes.
Raul
Raul is third on Real Madrid's all-time top scorers list behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. He captained the team in his playing days, winning three Champions Leagues and six La Liga crowns. Raul He currently coaches the club's B-team, Castilla.
He has worked at the club since 2017 and knows the club inside out. However, his side sits in the relegation zone with one win from 11 games this season. Therefore, he'll need to convince the president and the fanbase he can coach the first team.
Jurgen Klopp
The former Liverpool boss is unlikely to take another coaching job after stepping away a few months ago. However, the Real Madrid role can be tempting for any coach. Last month, he became the global head of soccer at Red Bull, a move that elicited some angry reactions.
He made Liverpool one of the best teams in the world and ended their Premier League title drought. The Real Madrid role could tempt him to end his sabbatical and return to management.
Is Mbappe unhappy with Ancelotti?
Legit.ng earlier reported that Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the club’s tactical setup.
The France captain is facing a difficult period in his career. He is struggling to reach the top form he showed in the French league.