Five candidates to become Real Madrid's next manager

Real Madrid announced the exit of Xabi Alonso as head coach on Tuesday, with the Spaniard departing after less than eight months in charge.

A fractured relationship with notable members of the dressing room, alongside some unconvincing results, has seen Alonso exit the Bernabeu by 'mutual consent'. The decision was made following the Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona.

Alvaro Arbeloa has been named as his replacement, though it's unclear whether that appointment is for the long term.

We've profiled five names that could be in the frame for the permanent position.

Alvaro Arbeloa

Arbeloa has inherited the role from his former teammate, tasked with turning around the club's season. The 42-year-old returned to Real Madrid as a coach in 2020 and has been in charge of the club's reserve team, Castilla, this season.

Handing the reins to Arbeloa on a permanent basis would represent risk, though the Spaniard has the chance to impress in the coming weeks. His first challenge will be restoring order to a dressing room that Alonso found difficult to deal with.

Jurgen Klopp

Perhaps the dream candidate, Klopp has been out of football management since leaving Liverpool in 2024.

The German took on his first role post-Anfield when he was appointed global head of soccer at Red Bull in January 2025.

Klopp has the personality to handle the expectation in Madrid, while the job could offer the prospect of a reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold in the Spanish capital.

He said recently that he currently has no plans to return to the dugout, though the Bundesliga , Premier League and Champions League winner could be tempted by arguably club football's biggest role.

Speaking on return to management on the Diary of a CEO podcast , he said in October:"I don't even know exactly. I love what I do now.

"I don't miss coaching. I don't. I do coach but it's just different, it's not players. I don't miss it. I don't miss standing in the rain for two-and-a-half or three hours. I also don't miss going to press conferences three times a week.

"Having 10 or 12 interviews a week, I don't miss that. I don't. I don't miss being in the dressing room. I coached around 1,080 games so I was in the dressing room very, very often.

"I don't want to die in the dressing room. It's these kind of things. I'm 58. From your perspective that might be old, but from other perspectives, it's not that old.

"That means I could make a decision in a few years. I don't know. Do I have to make a decision today? I will not coach again, but thank God I do not have to do that, I can just see what the future brings."

Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca has been installed among the early favourites for the role, having become available after leaving Chelsea earlier this month.

Maresca's managerial career includes second-tier promotion at Leicester City, before winning the Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea in 2024-25.

The 45-year-old has a wealth of experience in La Liga , having spent time with Sevilla and Malaga during his playing career.

Andoni Iraola

Could Real Madrid swap one Basque-born coach for another?

Andoni Iraola has won plenty of admirers during his coaching career, consolidating Rayo Vallecano as a top-tier team in Spain, before enhancing his reputation at Bournemouth.

Iraola's intense brand of football has been described as "rock and roll", while he has kept the Cherries competitive despite sales of key figures including Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, and Antoine Semenyo.

Manchester United have also been linked.

Zinedine Zidane

Could we really see the Zinedine Zidane trilogy?

The Frenchman has turned down opportunities to return to management ever since ending his second spell at Real Madrid in 2021. He departed after a trophyless campaign, often the end for a Real Madrid manager, but boasts a résumé that few can compete with.

Across his two stints at the Bernabeu, Zidane won 11 trophies, including two La Liga titles and an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League crowns.