'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Joachim Low
Joachim Low is yet another high-profile candidate who is reportedly on Real Madrid's shortlist. But it comes as a bit of a surprise as even though Joachim Low has proved his mettle on the big stage, his best days seem to be behind him. He has looked a bit bereft of ideas and the German national team has struggled in recent times.
Low is set to resign as the coach of the German international team at the end of the Euros. Low has also hinted that he is interested in the Real Madrid job. He told ZDF TV via ESPN, towards the end of March:
"I'll hopefully see out my contract, but my race as a national team coach is almost run, and you must start making plans at some point. I'd be interested in coaching at club level. I don't plan on retiring. It would be abroad. I don't think it'll be in Germany. [Real are] a club which is interesting for every coach, right?"
But Low's last stint in club management was with Rapid Wien in Austria in the 2003-04 season and it would be a bit of a risk from Real Madrid's side to go for him ahead of the other candidates.
#2 Raul Gonzalez
Raul is a Real Madrid legend and while it would be a risky move to hand the youth team's coach the role of the main man at the club, it will undoubtedly be welcomed by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful. Just like Zinedine Zidane, Raul learned the ropes of management during his time with the Real Madrid youth system.
He has done an incredible job too, winning the UEFA Youth Cup and almost winning promotion with the Real Madrid Castilla side despite losing key players to the senior squad.
Raul has been crucial to the development and promotion of a lot of young talent in the youth system, with Miguel Gutierrez, Antonio Blanco and Sergio Arribas in particular looking worthy of staking a claim on a spot in the senior side in the near future.
There are no candidates on the list who understand the club and its philosophy better than Raul and given how he has already proven to be a good coach, it might be a risk worth taking.
#1 Massimiliano Allegri
In Massimiliano Allegri, Real Madrid have perhaps their most ideal candidate. Allegri has been on a hiatus ever since pulling the shutters on a successful stint with Juventus in 2019.
Allegri is a fantastic coach and had transformed Juventus into one of the most entertaining teams, even beating Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2014-15 season.
Allegri guided Juventus to two UEFA Champions League finals but lost both of them and this led him to believe that he had taken the club as far as he could.
The Italian coach builds his side around a strong defense and his teams have a distinct and cohesive style of play. He was able to bring the best out of all the midfielders he worked with at Juventus and at Real Madrid, he will have some of the best in the world at his disposal.
If the Real Madrid board are willing to back Allegri in the market and trust the process, he might just be the best choice they have got.
