BEVERLY HILLS, May 15, (THEWILL) – The dust raised by the revelation of Zinedine Zidane’s decision to leave the managerial position at the former La Liga champions Real Madrid is yet to settle and already there are candidates being bandied about to take the job as soon as it becomes vacant.
Among the names that have come up, former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri and old time Los Blancos Galactico legend Raul are the top favourites with the club management seemingly desirous to pick between these options, when the time comes.
Allegri will be a top contender as there have been reports that have followed his contacts with Real bosses as early as March, at a time when there were heightened rumours that Zidane might not finish the season as Madrid manager. But, the Frenchman steadied the ship of the Madrid giants and the rumours petered out.
The contacts between the manager and Real have been the club’s way of preparing for the eventuality of a Zidane exit but have been handled off-camera as a professional courtesy to their French manager until the club formally divests itself of his services.
Now, as Zidane has made up his mind to leave, Allegri might be called upon when the vacancy becomes public, and it is most likely that he will answer the call. Although the Italian is in hot demand across some Italian clubs seeking to gain from his background in Serie A, the out-of-work coach had kept from committing himself elsewhere as he waits to know how things will work out with Real first.
Allegri has not hidden his desire to coach Real and this must have been part of the discussions he has had during his contacts with the club. Since he left Juve in 2019, the Italian has stayed off coaching but always nursed the intention to return, with the English Premier League being a possible destination.
However, the lure of a position atop the giants of Spanish football and the all-conquering 13-times UEFA Champions League winners is just too attractive to be missed. It is enough to skip any other offers from anywhere else.
Raul, on the other hand, is presently saddled with the responsibility of managing Real’s B team, Real Madrid Castilla. As an insider and club icon, he has a foot in the door when the club considers its options for Zidane’s replacement. He will not need any extra time to settle in properly but can hit the ground running.
Yet, appointing Allegri has its benefits for Real. The Italian is an accomplished manager with years of managerial experience at the highest levels under his belt making him the most favourable option, which allows Real to maintain Raul with team B, as a back-up plan.
That will be exactly reminiscent of how circumstances played out that got Zidane the top job, who at the time had no elite experience as a head coach, but was trusted to be capable of handling the promotion to the first-team manager position to replace Rafa Benítez and it turned out to be the most inspired decision the club took.
Whoever it is that takes the top spot, the headaches of Zidane’s will immediately be adopted and he it is who will be tasked with the general overhaul the club needs in terms of player transfers in and out of the club, the revamping of the team technical bench, the phasing out of the old guard and the uphill task of returning the club to champions at home, in continental Europe and at the world club stage in general.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
