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There’s not a single bigger job in world football than Real Madrid.
It’s the ultimate acid test. Can you manage the biggest club in world football? Can you handle the biggest stars and their egos? Can you match a beautiful brand of football with a win-at-all-costs mentality? Can you deal with the incredible publicity that comes with every decision you make?
There are a number of high-profile managers that would give their left arm to put Real Madrid on their CV and with Carlo Ancelotti set to take the Brazil role after a challenging year in charge of Los Blancos, we’ve run the rule over the eight men topping the next Real Madrid manager odds list.
Below, you will find an in-depth look at eight managers, why Florentino Perez may consider them and why it makes sense for them to sit atop the next Real Madrid manager odds.
If you would like a punt on one of the following odds on the next Real Madrid manager, feel free to claim Betfair’s latest sign-up offer:
NEXT PERMANENT REAL MADRID MANAGER ODDS
| Raul | 3/1 | ||
| Julian Nagelsmann | 9/2 | ||
| Zinedine Zidane | 5/1 | ||
| Jose Mourinho | 13/2 | ||
| Jurgen Klopp | 11/1 | ||
| Didier Deschamps | 16/1 | ||
| Antonio Conte | 16/1 | ||
| Julen Lopetegui | 16/1 |
Raul could rule Real
The favourite in the next Real Madrid manager odds is not just a former player but a Real Madrid legend. Raul played over 700 competitive matches for Real, scoring over 300 goals, winning six league titles and three Champions Leagues.
The 45-year-old could be the latest to complete the transition from Real Madrid Castilla to first-team, following in the footsteps of Vicente Del Bosque, Rafael Benitez and Zinedine Zidane, to name a few. Florentino Perez has shown that he is not afraid to take the risk of employing an unproven manager with links to the club, and Raul would be a hugely popular appointment with both Real Madrid supporters and the Spanish media after the career he had.
Raul has done a superb job with Castilla too, taking on the job in 2019 with the team in the fourth tier. Four years later, his final game in charge could be a successful play-off final second leg against Eldense to take them into the second tier and it would be made all the sweeter given they beat Barcelona Atletic in the semi-final. The only question is whether he represents too much of a risk, stepping up from the third tier to the top of the game.
Next Real Madrid Manager
13th August
kick off 16:30 RaulHotshot Nagelsmann could be trusted with the big job
From a youthful rookie to a youthful but proven manager. Julian Nagelsmann may only be 35 years of age but he has a lot of experience behind him already and could be set for a first job outside of Germany.
After years in their youth setup, Nagelsmann stepped up to the Hoffenheim job in spectacular fashion, taking them from relegation candidates to back-to-back Champions League finishes and becoming the youngest coach to reach 100 games in management in Germany. He followed that up by taking RB Leipzig to a Champions League semi-final and winning a title and two Super cups with Bayern Munich in just over 18 months.
Nagelsmann has found 2023 difficult and it’s perhaps no coincidence that it has coincided with high-profile changes in his personal life. He was sacked by Bayern Munich as they fell behind Borussia Dortmund in the title race. Taking the Real Madrid job on the back of what is perceived as a failure and dealing with an all-encompassing job shortly while enduring personal changes may not be the wisest decision. Yet, a fresh challenge could be what the 35-year-old needs and his stock remains high – he is rightly near the top of the next Real Madrid manager odds.
Next Real Madrid Manager
13th August kick off 16:30 Julian NagelsmannA return for Zidane on the cards?
Could Zinedine Zidane return to Real Madrid for a third time? You wouldn’t put it past Florentino Perez seriously considering it.
The Frenchman stepped up from Real Madrid Castilla spectacularly in his first spell, winning three Champions Leagues in two and a half years. He then returned in March 2019 after Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari had struggled, overseeing a big summer of change and leading the club to a league title and Super Cup before a trophyless second season.
The 50-year-old’s past performance in the job makes him a creditable contender, hence his position in the next Real Madrid manager odds. He would provide a fresh voice and has proven he can handle the role. However, Real now possess a different make-up of squad to the one he had success with and Zidane would be replacing Carlo Ancelotti, a manager he not only holds in high esteem but also considers a huge influence. Zidane may not be enough of a change from the man who couldn’t bring success in 2022-23.
Next Real Madrid Manager
13th August kick off 16:30 Zinedine ZidaneReal chance of Mour trophies for Jose
Another manager in the next Real Madrid manager odds to have previously managed or have past connections to Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho is as high-profile as they come, his 20 years of management bringing over 25 trophies includes league and European success at the highest level. His time with Real Madrid was also successful, taking on the great Pep Guardiola Barcelona side of 2008-2012 and managing to leave with at least one of every domestic trophy on offer, including a league title.
The 60-year-old didn’t exactly leave Real Madrid under the best circumstances. His controversial style led to divisions amongst Real Madrid fans, saw him get on the wrong side of key personnel in Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo and he left admitting his final season was the worst of his career (at that time, anyway). His career hasn’t reached the same heights since, although he has reached two European finals with AS Roma.
Next Real Madrid Manager
13th August kick off 16:30 Jose MourinhoCould sunny Madrid tempt Klopp to flippity-flop from Anfield?
Jurgen Klopp has an impressive body of work in his managerial career and his name continues to be linked with the Real Madrid job whenever it becomes available, as indicated by the next Real Madrid manager odds.
The 56-year-old was the last manager to prove capable of tackling the Bayern Munich juggernaut in Germany and has since won everything with Liverpool, ending their league title drought and bringing the Champions League back to Anfield. The German is a force of nature and his presence and positivity have brought real unity and positivity to the clubs he has managed in both England and Germany, traits that would be welcome at Real Madrid.
There are red flags about him managing Real Madrid. For starters, he has managed just three clubs in 20+ years of management, always taking on a project that could be deemed longer-term. His work has also come with clubs looking to propel themselves upward rather than maintaining status at the top. However, Klopp is a very experienced manager and has proven he can improve players – helpful with so many young stars at Real Madrid now – he may feel it is time to take the biggest job around.
Next Real Madrid Manager
13th August kick off 16:30 Jurgen KloppBack-to-back World Cup finalist Deschamps in the running for Real job
Is Didier Deschamps as underrated as a manager as he was as a player? Potentially.
At 54, there isn’t much Deschamps hasn’t done. He won a cup and reached a Champions League final with Monaco. Won promotion back to Serie A with Juventus. Won a league title and three consecutive cups with Marseille. Won the World Cup and Nations League with France, as well as, finishing up as runners-up at Euro 2016 and World Cup 2022.
There is definitely a question about style. Deschamps was a water-carrier as a player and values team structure over flamboyancy, looking to get the best out of one or two individuals rather than letting the team, as a whole, express themselves. That is unlikely to appeal to Madridistas and Perez.
However, he gets results. Deschamps has succeeded in every job he has taken and after over a decade in charge of France, he may feel it is time to return to club management. He already knows plenty about two of their up-and-coming stars too, managing Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni at international level.
Next Real Madrid Manager
13th August kick off 16:30 Didier DeschampsHothead Conte to try his luck in Spain?
Antonio Conte taking on the Real Madrid job after struggling with Tottenham Hotspur may look surprising, but this is a club that brought in Rafael Benitez after struggles in Naples, so it wouldn’t be the biggest shock.
Why is he on the next Real Madrid manager odds list? Because he’s a winner and he struggles with the notion of not being able to win everything, a mentality that aligns itself with Los Blancos. The 53-year-old has won two promotions, four Serie A’s, two Coppa Italia’s and a Premier League, as well as reaching the Europa League final with Inter Milan. He even dragged Spurs into the top four and was on course to do so again until his outbursts.
Those outbursts are probably what stop him from being more than an option for Real. Conte is an outspoken, demanding manager and few managers of that ilk last long at Real Madrid, especially if he decides to push Perez or a high-profile, big-money signing under the bus publicly. Conte is also a stubborn character with a very clear idea of how he sees the game but success at Real Madrid requires flexibility both tactically and emotionally.
next Real Madrid Manager
13th August kick off 16:30 Antonio ConteCan Midlands outfit keep the wolves from taking Lopetegui?
There can’t be many occasions where the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers could be touted by Real Madrid but Julen Lopetegui finds himself available on the next Real Madrid manager odds list.
Lopetegui would be stepping back into a hot seat that burned him previously, lasting three months in 2018. It was a disastrous spell that started controversially – he left Spain on the eve of the World Cup – and things got worse with a Super Cup defeat against Atletico Madrid before being sacked after a 5-1 loss at Camp Nou.
Lopetegui has since repaired his reputation. Once a successful Spanish youth coach, he returned to management with Sevilla in 2019, winning the Europa League and finishing in the top four three seasons in a row. His eventual departure came amid poor form and personal circumstances but he did return to management with Wolves and kept them up comfortably.
Whether the 56-year-old has repaired his reputation enough to be given another opportunity by Madrid is questionable. However, he is likely available to leave Wolves given their financial situation and the job he takes on isn’t quite as difficult to follow as the one he took on in 2018 post-Zidane.
Next Real Madrid Manager
13th August kick off 16:30 Julen Lopetegui
