The dust has not yet settled on the La Liga 2016/17 season, but moves are already being made in terms of managers ahead of next season.
Clubs know that time can’t be wasted when it comes to appointing a new coach, both for their own aspirations and the fact that others may make their own moves. So who will be going where?
BARCELONA are undoubtedly the headline act when it comes to choosing a new coach, and it looks like two genuine candidates stand out. Jorge Sampaoli can be ruled out, through both his diminishing credit and Argentina coming into the picture. It leaves Ernesto Valverde and the departing Luis Enrique’s right hand man, Juan Carlos Unzue. Both are similar in some regards; they are safe transitions and won’t rock the boat too much. And they know the club. But Valverde packs more experience in Europe potentially.
Sampaoli looks set to leave SEVILLA regardless of the Barça situation, and that will create a gap at the club. It’s a gap they would like to fill with Eduardo Berizzo, who feels he has hit a ceiling at Celta and his reasonable demands in terms of bolstering the squad have not been met.
With that in mind CELTA VIGO want a similar coach, someone who demands work rate from his players. So, after performing above expectations with Alaves, it’s no surprise Mauricio Pellegrino is fancied.
The former Valencia coach had contract talks with Alaves, and more are planned, but it’s looking increasingly likely an exit will happen. There also appears to be some sort of falling out with several players at the club, despite his brilliant work which will culminate in a Copa del Rey final.
ALAVES have done superbly upon their return to LaLiga, and a consequence of that is Pellegrino departing. Given that, they’ll be well aware of the fact that they have to enter the market for a coach. With that in mind, Matias Almeyda is emerging as the top candidate for the job. He might be difficult to prise away from Chivas, however.
Back to Berizzo though, who is hot property. The 47-year-old is also a candidate for ATHLETIC BILBAO’s bench, should Valverde leave. Sevilla pack more appeal, however, given the base and resources they already have in place. It leaves Bilbao looking at two names - José Ángel Ziganda and Quique Setien. The former seems better placed given his knowledge of the club, and incredible work with the club’s B team of which Athletic will likely need to promote heavily from.
Setien is going to be another wanted man this summer, regardless. VALENCIA had him down as their number one pick, but have opted for Marcelino instead because the club never really knows what it wants. The former Villarreal man is an excellent coach with a clear idea of how he wants his teams to play - but there is the downside of him sometimes alienating players with his precise methods.
With Setien no longer in play at Valencia, enter REAL BETIS, an equally ambitious outfit that has its own section of disgruntled fans. The powers that be there see Setien as the man to get the club back on track, despite problems being slightly bigger than who sits in the dugout. But if at last Betis can get the right coach, it would be a start - and not of the false variety experienced with Victor.
LAS PALMAS will be a LaLiga side next season, despite their implosion down the the home straight. The man tasked with following Setien at the club looks set to be Manolo Marquez, who has been impressive with the youth teams at the club. Pablo Machín was another option, but with Girona likely being promoted, he can be ruled out.
Elsewhere, don’t expect any real changes. Fran Escriba isn’t universally loved at VILLARREAL but has performed well enough to remain in the job. The team from Castellon aren’t trigger happy when it comes to coaches and Escriba will likely stay and hopefully earn a bit more respect.
ESPANYOL, REAL SOCIEDAD and EIBAR have all had very good seasons and will keep their men - unless a crazy offer comes in like the one that took Javi Garcia away from MALAGA last summer.
Speaking of the team from the south, they are going to stick with Michel who has done some excellent work since arriving in March. LEGANES look set to stick with Asier Garitano despite a relegation battle, and the same can be said for DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA with Pepe Mel. Rubi meanwhile looks set to remain with SPORTING GIJON, despite their impending drop to LaLiga123.
Finally, to the two Madrid giants. Zinedine Zidane is in a fine position with REAL MADRID and will have an even better squad at his disposal next season. He will stay.
But how about across the city, and ATLETICO MADRID? Who will lead them into their new stadium? Despite the rumours, it would be a dramatic turn of events should Diego Simeone leave for Inter. Atleti, now more solid behind the scenes, are probably prepared to some degree for the day that Cholo departs. Should it be now, this summer, they will turn to Berizzo.
