Real Madrid could turn to club icon Zinedine Zidane for the third time as they attempt to find a replacement for outgoing boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian is set to leave the Bernabeu at the end of next season having already agreed to become the Brazil head coach. That leaves the Spanish giants looking for his successor, with Zidane at the front of a list of former players who they could appoint.
The Frenchman, who had a hugely successful playing career with Los Blancos, has already had two stints in the hot seat. He won two LaLiga titles and potentially more notably, the Champions League on three occasions.
Zidane has been out of work since leaving the club for the second time in 2021 and is keen to get back into management. His relationship with Madrid chief Florentino Perez also remains positive.
However, Real could find it tough to convince him. He has regularly been linked with taking the reins of the French national, whilst another of his former clubs Juventus are reportedly also an option.
Should Madrid fail in their attempts to tempt Zidane back to the Spanish capital, an array of former players could quickly become prime candidates for the job. Former midfielder Xabi Alonso has impressed hugely in his debut senior managerial role with Bayer Leverkusen, according to MailOnline.
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It is suggested that the former Tottenham target would be next in line, whilst his style also fits very well with the club’s current ethos. However, there are doubts over whether Alonso would be able to take on the mantle of the Real Madrid job, particularly so early in his career.
He also underlined his commitment to his current employers after being linked with a move to North London. Speaking in May, the former Liverpool star said: "I'm happy here with the team and the club. I'm not worried about my future.
Asked if he would see out the end of his contract, that is set to run until 2024, he replied: "That's correct."
Should that prove to be the case, former Spanish internationals Raul and Alvaro Arbeloa could come into the club’s thinking. The former is an iconic figure at the Bernabeu and sits third in their all-time top scorers list behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
He has also shown early promise as a manager. He has been in charge of the club’s Castilla side since 2019 having previously coached the under-19s.
Raul has twice led his current team to the brink of promotion to the Spanish second tier, only to lose out in the playoffs on both occasions. Elsewhere, Arbeloa’s work is also garnering admiring glances.
The former right-back led the club’s under-18 side to the league title last term.
