The 44-year-old got Los Blancos off to a near-perfect start, but has since faltered. The Spanish giants have won just two of their last eight matches across all competitions, calling into question<\/a> Alonso\u2019s future on the touchline at his former club.<\/p>\n If Real Madrid<\/a> continue to spiral, the manager will likely find himself in need of a new job. Club president Florentino P\u00e9rez, then, will be left with the task of finding a suitable successor. But which candidates have the best chance of landing the toughest job in football? <\/p>\n HENRY WINTER. Winter Alonso. Xabi Alonso Discovering Real Madrid Is the Impossible Job. dark<\/p>\n Cesc F\u00e0bregas has impressed at Como. \/ Tiziano Ballabio\/NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Just two years ago, the notion of former Barcelona<\/a> star Cesc F\u00e0bregas taking over Real Madrid would have seemed almost ridiculous. After all, the Spaniard had only just retired and had no managerial experience to his name.<\/p>\n Yet F\u00e0bregas has become one of the most exciting young managers in today\u2019s game with his success at Como 1907<\/a>. The 38-year-old led the Italian outfit to 10th in the Serie A standings in 2024\u201325, which happened to be the club\u2019s first campaign in the Italian top-flight in 21 years.<\/p>\n Now in his second full season in charge, the ex-midfielder has Como sixth in the table, developing young talent like former Real Madrid players Nico Paz and Jacobo Ram\u00f3n. <\/p>\n Still, F\u00e0bregas would likely never leave Como mid-season, and Los Blancos might not have time to wait.<\/p>\n Likelihood Rating: 2\/10<\/p>\n J\u00fcrgen Klopp was named Red Bull\u2019s Head of Global Soccer in January. \/ IMAGO\/Picture Point LE<\/p>\n When looking at free agents with a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 worthy of managing the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid will be hard-pressed to find many better than J\u00fcrgen Klopp. The German bid farewell to Liverpool<\/a> at the end of the 2023\u201324 season, vowing to take a break from his managerial career.<\/p>\n Klopp stayed true to his promise and became Red Bull\u2019s Head of Global Soccer in January. The 58-year-old has been linked<\/a> with what could be a triumphant return to the touchline, though, should Los Blancos come calling. <\/p>\n A manager with the experience of winning nearly all there is to win in England, Germany and Europe would be a dream fit for the 15-time European champions, especially given the passion and tactical brain of Klopp. <\/p>\n Yet Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff claimed the ex-Liverpool boss \u201chas made it clear\u201d he does not want to be a manager at the moment. <\/p>\n Likelihood Rating: 3\/10<\/p>\n FREE NEWSLETTER. New SI FC Newsletter Global Embed. Sign Up to Get Informed With SI FC. dark<\/p>\n Ra\u00fal bid farewell to Real Madrid Castilla in May. \/ Angel Martinez\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Before the rise of Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, Ra\u00fal likely thought he would be the man to replace Ancelotti. The club legend managed Real Madrid Castilla for six years, biding his time until a potential opening came along.<\/p>\n Ra\u00fal helped develop the best talent coming through La F\u00e1brica, including current first-team members Ra\u00fal Asencio and Gonzalo Garc\u00eda. Yet he was ultimately overlooked in favor of Alonso, prompting the former forward to leave the reserve team at the end of last season.<\/p>\n Even if Los Blancos do not see Ra\u00fal as a long-term successor, they could still turn to the Spaniard to try and salvage the second half of the 2025\u201326 season. He has the experience of both playing at Real Madrid and managing Castilla, a winning formula for the club in the past. <\/p>\n Despite the positives, Ra\u00fal would likely only be a last resort if the Spanish giants could not get either of the two managers coming next on this list. <\/p>\n Likelihood Rating: 5\/10<\/p>\n Zinedine Zidane is biding his time until he accepts a new job. \/ Sebastian Frej\/MB Media\/Getty Images<\/p>\n It goes without saying that if Real Madrid had their way, Zinedine Zidane would be Alonso\u2019s successor. The Frenchman\u2019s legacy at the club, both on the pitch and the touchline, is unmatched.<\/p>\n Zidane managed the biggest names and egos during his first stint with the Spanish giants, leading them to three consecutive Champions League<\/a> titles. His experience with Cristiano Ronaldo and co. gives him the foundation to lead the team\u2019s next generation of superstars.<\/p>\n The 53-year-old has not taken a job since he left Real Madrid for the second time in 2021; Zidane is thought to be waiting to take over the France national team after the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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