Sport
Next Real Madrid Manager Odds
Carlo Ancelotti has won it all at Real Madrid and will go down as one of the club’s best ever managers, but some fans feel it’s time for change at the Bernabéu.
After crashing out of the Champions League quarter-finals at the hands of Arsenal, the Italian boss’ future is under scrutiny and names are already being thrown into the hat to replace him.
As of 17th April 2025, numerous sources are reporting that Carlo Ancelotti will step down as Real Madrid manager following the 2025 Copa Del Rey final – so we take a look at the potential candidates to be the next man in at the Santiago Bernabeu below.
Bet on Football at William Hill.
Leading Contenders
Xabi Alonso – 8/13
Leading the race to be the next Real Madrid manager is former Los Blancos midfielder Xabi Alonso. An incredibly talented and intelligent player, Alonso has transferred those skills into what has so far been a successful coaching career.
His invincible title-winning season with Bayer Leverkusen caught the attention of all of Europe’s giants and he’s continued to impress with the German outfit this season. His links to the Bernabéu make him a likely contender, as do his obvious managerial qualities.
Andoni Iraola – 3/1
You only have to go back two years to find Andoni Iraola finishing a respectable 11th place in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano. That earned him a move to the Premier League, taking over from Gary O’Neil.
After a shaky start, Iraola led the Cherries to a best-ever 48 points, finishing in 12th place. He hasn’t looked back since, turning Bournemouth into genuine contenders for the European places this season.
Should he continue to take Bournemouth to new heights, he’ll certainly be in the conversation for a big European job, maybe even in Madrid.
Other Candidates
Jürgen Klopp – 8/1
Somewhat of a surprise inclusion on the list is Jürgen Klopp, the current Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull. A bigger name in the managerial sphere than the two ahead of him in the market, Klopp’s credentials speak for themselves.
The German doesn’t look destined to return to club football anytime soon, but if the call comes from Florentino Perez it’ll be a hard one to ignore.
Zinedine Zidane – 11/1
Should Madrid go down the tried and tested route, their three-time Champions League-winning boss Zinedine Zidane would likely find himself at the top of the list.
After taking over from Rafael Benitez in 2016, Zidane was an instant hit in the dugout, winning his first El Clásico away at the Camp Nou, before taking them all the way in the Champions League, defeating rivals Atlético Madrid in the final.
Another two Champions Leagues would follow, making him the first coach to win the trophy in three consecutive seasons. He would go out on a high, leaving after the third victory.
However, a poor run of form saw him return in 2019, adding a La Liga title and Supercopa de España triumph to his resumé. Should he return again, we could expect nothing less than a resumption of his winning ways in Madrid.
Raul – 12/1
Another Madrid legend in the running to take the hot seat is their third top goalscorer of all time, Raúl. With 741 games under his belt for the club as a player – making him their record appearance maker – ‘El Ferrari’ knows exactly what the Bernabéu faithful demand.
He is currently the manager of Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team of Real Madrid. His managerial credentials don’t make for a long list, but he’s already tasted European success in winning the UEFA Youth League with Real Madrid’s Under-19s.
