Listing the 5 renowned managers who rejected Real Madrid 

#3 Julian Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann is proving to be one of the most exciting young managers across Europe.

Julian Nagelsmann caught the average football fan's eye while managing at 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany. He was appointed by the club aged just 28, making him the youngest manager in Bundesliga history.

From 17th and seven points from safety in February, Nagelsmann rescued Hoffenheim to finish a spot above the relegation zone at the end of his first season.

Hoffenheim continued their strong run of form into the next season as they finished an incredible fourth in the Bundesliga. They also qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.

Following that, he had a two-year spell at RB Leipzig where Nagelsmann became the youngest coach to win a Champions League knockout fixture. He is currently in charge of Bayern Munich having made an astronomical ascent to the top of German football.

Nagelsmann revealed last year that he rejected Real Madrid in 2018, citing linguistic barriers as well as time constraints as his reasons. Nagelsmann said:

"I said that it made no sense at the time. It would only have been three weeks until the start of training, I could barely speak Spanish. That would not have been enough for me or Madrid."

In hindsight, it seems like the smartest move for both Nagelsmann and Real Madrid, with both parties tasting success in good quantities since then.

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#2 Mauricio Pochettino

Poch turned a lot of heads in the footballing world in 2016, doing the unthinkable and taking Spurs to their first Champions League final.

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez's first choice to become their manager in the summer of 2018. However, Los Blancos faced stiff competition from Spurs' local rivals Manchester United.

The Argentine manager made a name for himself with Spurs, creating an exciting side with a blend of youth and experience. Poch is often credited with developing Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, who are currently the mainstays of the Spurs' offense.

However, Pochettino was Real Madrid's top choice to become manager in 2018, but declined. He cited Spurs' young and upcoming squad, combined with their stadium redevelopment, as the main reasons for turning Los Blancos down. When asked why he didn't join Real Madrid, Pochettino said:

"I was happy at Tottenham and I signed a contract, and we [his staff and Spurs] finished very well. The relationship is impeccable."

The Argentine was sacked by Spurs and now manages Paris Saint-Germain. In hindsight, he may not have many complaints considering the squad he has at his disposal with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. What he could have done at Real Madrid, though, will forever remain a football fantasy story.

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#1 Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger was fondly known as 'Le Professeur' for his calculated and scientific approach to football.

Arsene Wenger enjoyed more than two decades of top quality Premier League football competition during his 22-year tenure as Arsenal manager. He is the only manager in modern history to go an entire Premier League season unbeaten (2003-04).

In the present day, the Frenchman works as the Head of Global Operations for FIFA. Here is a quote by a regretful Wenger made in hindsight:

Like any other top quality manager experienced, Arsene Wenger, too, was courted by Real Madrid to become their manager. Wenger revealed in 2019 that the Spanish giants approached him more than once throughout his career. Wenger explained why he stayed with the Gunners, saying:

"I've turned down Real Madrid more than once. I must say now it's over for me. I feel if you ask any manager in the world, would you be interested in coaching Real Madrid? Everybody would say yes - it's the biggest club in the world."

When asked whether his love for Arsenal played a part in his decision, Wenger added:

"Yes, we live always to our values. It was in the middle of a process where we built the stadium, we had to pay it back, I guaranteed I would stay and I am quite happy with my decision."

Going by his statements, it is likely that the first instance was in the early 2000s when Los Blancos were peaking with their Galacticos squad. The second one seems to be after his tenure at Arsenal was over, in 2018, when Madrid were on the lookout for someone to replace Zidane.

However, Arsenal fans worldwide will be grateful for Wenger's loyalty and service to the club during his time in charge.