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To play for Real Madrid, the most successful club in European competitions, is the dream of about every footballer in the world. So, it would be expected that every world-class manager would also like to be at the helm of this legendary club, right?
In reality, though, things are not so straightforward. Expectations are always through the roof at the Santiago Bernabeu and with the demanding Florentino Perez in the picture, not every manager fancies a stint as Los Blancos boss.
With the recent sacking of head coach Julen Lopetegui, who joined the club only this summer, Real Madrid are on the lookout for a new manager again.
While they may approach some of the biggest names of the coaching business in the coming days, their quest for appointing a worthy manager at the helm may take a little longer than expected, as some of these men are wary of the drastic consequences that await them in case of failure.
So, without further ado, let us take a look at 4 managers who Real Madrid need not contact this time around, as they have already made their intentions about not moving to Spain very clear.
#1 Massimiliano Allegri
The Juventus coach revealed in an interview with Sky Sport Italia, that he had turned down an offer to join the 2018 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid in June this year.
Allegri has been the best manager in Italy for the past few seasons, he became the only manager in a top European league to win the domestic double in four consecutive seasons. Thus, Madrid saw him as an ideal candidate to replace the departing Zinedine Zidane.
Soon after Zidane left the club, Perez had approached the Italian to take up the Real Madrid job. But, Allegri was firm in his commitment to the Turin based club and rejected the offer outright.
In the interview, he said:
"I said no to Real Madrid. I did it on the phone to Florentino Perez because I had given my word to president Agnelli."
"I thanked Florentino for the offer but said I couldn't accept it out of the respect I owed to Juventus."
#2 Julian Nagelsmann
One of the best young coaches in Europe right now, Julian Nagelsmann revealed back in July that he had received a 'phone call' regarding the vacancy at the Santiago Bernebau.
The highly-rated German led his current club TSG Hoffenheim to their first ever Champions League campaign this year, after an impressive third-place finish in the Bundesliga last season.
"Madrid called me," he told 11Freunde.
"Who would hang up the phone? There's no bigger club than Real Madrid. But I am only 31 years old, I may have another opportunity. I didn't want to move countries."
Eventually, he did agree to leave Rhein-Neckar-Arena for another top German club RB Leipzig, whom he'll be joining up with at the start of the next season.
Clearly, another stint in the Bundesliga will help the 31-year-old develop even more, before he is ready for a bigger challenge in some other league.
#3 Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte, who won the Premier League in his very first season with Chelsea, was one of the favorites to take over the responsibilities from the Zidane, who announced a shock resignation as Real Madrid's manager this summer.
Given the uncertainties regarding his future at Stamford Bridge after a disappointing season, Real Madrid were certain to land the former Juventus coach as their new head coach.
But the Italian rejected an offer from Los Blancos in favor of the £9 million pay-off he was going to receive from the Blues, Mirror reported.
With the sacking of Lopetegui 2 days ago, Real Madrid have reportedly reignited their efforts to persuade the former Italy coach to finally accept the job, according to the Spanish outlet Onda Cero.
But, according to a recent report from Sky Sports, Conte has 'ruled himself out' of the race to take over at Real Madrid.
#4 Arsene Wenger
One of the biggest managers of our time, Arsene Wenger revealed in an exclusive documentary with beIN SPORTS, that he had refused offers from Real Madrid two or three times during his time with Arsenal.
"Real Madrid, I think I turned them down two or three times. They are one of the teams I loved as a kid but I felt it was a very sensitive period for Arsenal," he said.
He confirmed interest from the Spanish side in 2009, when he conceded that the prospect of working under Florentino Pérez in Spain would be "interesting", The Guardian reported.
But his love for the Gunners was just too strong and nothing ever materialized between him and Los Blancos.
And when articles started appearing about him being lined up as a potential suitor for the recently vacated manager job at the Bernebau, he simply ruled himself out of the race, saying that he will only be back in the game in 2019, according to talkSPORT.
He said:
“Overall I don’t know what I will do next year, but I will be back in football and back in sport."
“Where? I don’t know, but only in the New Year.”
