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In June, Real Madrid announced that they had installed Julen Lopetegui at the helm to replace Zinedine Zidane. However, the timing of the announcement (2 days before the World Cup) led to Lopetegui’s ouster as the Spanish national team manager.
With just one decision, Florentino Perez had contrived to set up Spain’s World Cup for disaster while also sowing the seeds for a dismal quarter of Real Madrid’s season.
At Real Madrid, Lopetegui won only a handful of games and tasted defeat six times. However, it was him apparently ‘losing the dressing room’ which proved to be the last straw.
When the Spaniard was appointed, he was heralded as a shrewd acquisition. The footballing world believed that a manager who accorded utmost importance to a systematic and possession-based style of play was the need of the hour at the Bernabeu.
Many went as far as saying that he could be the harbinger of a new and exciting era, which would lay emphasis on developing young stars rather than buying proven stalwarts on the market.
However, four and a half months and a 5-1 Clasico thrashing later, Lopetegui finds himself out of the Bernabeu’s revolving managerial door. With Real Madrid in absolute turmoil, the incoming manager would have his task cut out trying to salvage the Los Blancos’ season.
Through this article, we would look at three options the Real Madrid hierarchy could look to in these times of strife.
3. Antonio Conte
The Italian has been unemployed ever since his acrimonious dismissal at Chelsea. Despite winning the Premier League and the FA Cup in his two years in charge, his hard-headed approach led to him making more enemies in the dressing room than he would’ve liked.
With Madrid in shambles, Conte could represent a good short-term option who can steady the ship and make them compete for top honours. His time with Juventus and Chelsea proves that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level. However, handling a club of the stature of Real Madrid is a different kettle of fish altogether.
At Real Madrid, Conte is bound to clash with numerous huge egos. There are usually only two outcomes possible when a hard taskmaster manager clashes with players with huge egos: either the team starts functioning to optimum capacity or the team starts falling apart before the manager can say ‘hello’. As for the Real Madrid faithful, they would hope it is a case of the former.
Though Conte would be the most extraordinary of choices, the storm clouds engulfing the Bernabeu have called for extraordinary measures to be put in place.
The appointment of Conte would be a huge risk in itself but Florentino Perez certainly isn’t averse to taking a risk or two. If it comes to fruition, an intriguing road to redemption lies ahead for Antonio Conte.
2. Leonardo Jardim
Jardim was sacked in October by AS Monaco after he left the club perilously close to the relegation zone. However, those waiting with their knives to massacre his reputation need to wait as the Portuguese coach was simply sensational in his first three years in charge.
The Portuguese worked a charm for AS Monaco and re-established them as a genuine superpower again. He developed the likes of Fabinho, Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Lemar and Mbappe into world-beaters. With the mentioned core of youngsters at his disposal, he led Monaco to an unprecedented league triumph in 2016-17, out-gunning their much wealthier Parisian rivals.
Jardim has an inclination to play an attacking and attractive brand of football. His Monaco side enthralled audiences with their bravery and skill on the ball. With Real Madrid seemingly lacking a direction currently, adopting his attacking philosophy might just be the right decision moving forward.
Additionally, his ability to nurture young talents would also sit well with Madrid’s new emphasis on youth.
Despite being only 44, Jardim is highly experienced having managed a host of European clubs. His age could also play into his hands as he would represent a slightly better longer-term option than Antonio Conte. Moreover, Perez craves his team to play expansive football and in Jardim, he may have just stumbled upon his ideal manager.
I would personally prefer Jardim over Conte but what goes on in Perez’s head is as difficult to decipher as a triple-layered encryption code. For now, all we can do is wait for Perez to show his hand.
1. Arsene Wenger
The final man on our short-list is none other than the legendary Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger. Though this would go down as probably the most left-field appointment ever, Perez’s fantasy with getting big names on board might just bring the Frenchman into the reckoning.
Arsene enjoyed a celebrated career at Arsenal. While the first half of his tenure was trophy-laden, including the Invincibles, the second half was more about rebuilding the club. However, over the years, Arsene’s inability to compete for the top prizes was quite alarming.
Despite all of Wenger’s weakness being splashed across the back pages, one wonders if Wenger might just be the right tonic for an ailing Real Madrid side. In the dressing room, Arsene would not belt out instructions, rather allowing the players to express themselves on the pitch.
In the latter part of his reign at Arsenal, Wenger lacked real leaders which led to his above philosophy falling short. However, at the Bernabeu, the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos would not let that problem resurface.
Additionally, his penchant for developing young guns into absolute beasts would hold him in good stead. Apart from this, his inclination to play attacking and attractive football would be tempting for Perez.
However, the only downside is the Frenchman’s age. At 69, he might not offer many years going forward but the Real Madrid hierarchy have rarely made decisions keeping the long-term future in mind.
The sight of Wenger managing Real Madrid, many years after rejecting them, is a fairy tale we don’t deserve. The eternal purist joining hands with arguably the biggest club in the world would be one for the ages.
Though there are a lot of obstacles before Arsene’s appointment, the ultimate football optimist would want the great man to have another chance to redeem himself. All over to you now, Mr Perez.
