3 possible substitutes for Zidane

CAIRO – 18 February 2018: Madrid will respect their coach Zinedine Zidane's decision at the end of the season, but Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, has a bunch of possible options in case he has to undertake hiring another coach.

Zidane has revealed, in the press conference prior to Real Betis’ La Liga’s game, that he is considering resigning from Real Madrid’s coach position.

In Real Madrid, the difficulty of the achieved task by ‘Zizou’ in these 26 months is valued and it will be the Frenchman who will make the decision, since they are aware that he would be the first to set the bench free if he does not see himself in the mood to start another new project.

In the agenda of possible substitutes, are three : Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino, Germany national team’s Joachim Löw and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp.


Soccer Football - Champions League - Tottenham Hotspur Training - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - February 12, 2018 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs



The Argentinean Pochettino, who already knows La Liga as he was Espanyol’s coach, has raised many integers. Many aspects like his management, philosophy and the way of dealing with players, have been liked by the Bernabeu’s fans, as was seen this season in the clash with Tottenham in the Champions League against Real Madrid.

"Pochettino is ruthless if you do not work and you are lazy," stated Tottenham’s striker Harry Kane.

On January 14, the Argentinean coach revealed his love to the White team on Onda Cero, a Spanish radio program: "Madrid will take me my coaching career wherever I want."

But Tottenham has extended his contract until 2021. The will of the coach would facilitate an operation; but the Spurs’ officials are a tough negotiator, as Madrid knows from their experiences with Modric and Bale. Convincing Daniel Levy, president of the London club, was very hard and both players had to make a transfer request to move to Madrid.



Germany coach Joachim Loew controls the ball during training - REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol


Joachim Löw’s contract will expire this summer but he previously signed a new contract with Germany, the ‘Mannschaft’, until 2020.

Florentino has had his eye on him since the World Cup in Brazil, but his relationship with the German Federation is solid. Madrid, in any case, would have to wait at least until he finishes his role this summer in Russia.



Britain Soccer Football - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Anfield - 11/2/17 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the match Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic


Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp is another option for Madrid as he succeeded to take Liverpool to a new level in the domestic competition. Since he joined Liverpool, he reached the Europa League’s final, developed the performance of many players like Coutinho, Salah, Mane and Firmino. But in Anfield, he also signed until 2022 with full powers.