Juergen Klopp on the Move?
Things went from bad to worse for Real Madrid this week as they were eliminated from the Champions League at the hands of Ajax. Having led 2-1 from the away leg, the home team were expected to see the job through but suffered a stunning 4-1 loss on home soil.
Having been eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Barcelona and cut adrift in the title race, there is very little left to play for at the Santiago Bernabeu this season.
Solari Suffers
However, one piece of business Real Madrid will be keen to tie up as quickly as possible is the managerial vacancy. Given their poor form this campaign, it has become clear Santiago Solari is not the man for the job.
It is by no means the Argentines fault that Real Madrid have been poor, the seeds were sewn well before he took temporary charge of the team. Nonetheless, Solari had a chance to put his name forward as the next permanent manager but has not been able to take it.
So much so, his name does not even feature in the betting.
Mourinho in the Frame
The man who currently leads the odds to be named the next Real Madrid manager is their former boss, Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese was sacked from Manchester United this season but that will not top the Spanish giants from making a move and Mourinho is currently the 8/11 favourite with Betfair to get the job.
Zidane to Return?
Another former manager, Zinedine Zidane, has also been linked with a return to the club and the Frenchman is 5/1 with PaddyPower. However, having left at the end of last season following three successive Champions League victories, it is unlikely he is going to return to the club so soon following such a great time at the club.
Interestingly, one man who has been heavily linked with the job in the past couple of days is Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp Tempted?
Liverpool fans will be hoping the news proves false but a report in the Independent newspaper suggests the German is their number one target. It is thought the people at the top want someone who is going to restore “excitement and happiness” at the Santiago Bernabeu and they believe Klopp is the man for the job.
It will not be the first time Klopp has been approached by Real Madrid should an official move materialise and he has turned them down before. However, Real Madrid carry serious weight and it would take a lot to turn them down a second time.
What Klopp has done for Liverpool has been fantastic and Real Madrid clearly see him as someone who can lead the club back to the good times next season. Klopp is 16/1 with Betfair to become the next manager of Real Madrid.