Real Madrid Next Permanent Coach Odds and Predictions – Who Will Take Over for Xabi Alonso?

Maresca is the top candidate in the Real Madrid next manager odds after leaving Chelsea on New Year’s Day. The 45-year-old Italian won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League at Chelsea, but he butted heads with the team’s ownership.

When current Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca scored this banging volley against Real Madrid in 2007.😮‍💨🚀 pic.twitter.com/kzxgjYGma8

— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) July 11, 2025

Maresca played at Sevilla and Malaga in Spain, so he knows the league. But rumor has it that he is waiting to replace Pep Guardiola, his mentor, at Manchester City. Guardiola is under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, but contracts mean nothing in soccer anymore.

You’d have to think Maresca would at least take Madrid’s call to discuss a possible deal. I don’t see it happening, but Real Madrid is arguably the best (and toughest) job in world soccer!

Klopp has been out of work since May 2024 after almost nine years at Liverpool. He brought the club’s first Premier League title to Anfield in 2020, while also winning two Champions League trophies, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup.

“Jurgen Klopp would seriously consider joining Real Madrid” 🚨

Florian Plettenberg with the latest on the fallout from Real Madrid sacking Xabi Alonso, where Jurgen Klopp still remains a candidate for Real Madrid and the former Liverpool manager is interested by the job ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/rFmgcjIoqd

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 13, 2026

The 58-year-old German is enjoying his hiatus, with numerous endorsements. He is also currently the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull. He hasn’t said anything about returning to coaching. But Madrid has enough money that he would have to at least think about it. Reportedly, Klopp is definitely interested in the job.

It should not be a surprise to see him near the top of the next Real Madrid manager odds!

Zidane will always be a consideration, given his status at Madrid not only as a legendary player, but also as a manager. As a player, “Zizou” won La Liga, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Supercopa de España, and the Intercontinental Cup. But as a manager, Zidane won two La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues, the Supercopa, two Super Cups, and the Club World Cup.

On this day 10 years ago, Zinedine Zidane was officially announced as Real Madrid’s new manager.

The rest is history. pic.twitter.com/XDmImHsIGt

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) January 4, 2026

However, I wouldn’t put too much in Zidane being named the permanent manager at Real Madrid. He is waiting for the France job to open up, and Didier Deschamps has already said he’s stepping down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.

Zidane is a legend at the Bernabeu, and for good reason. However, he has his sights set on France, so I wouldn’t put too much into his Real Madrid next manager odds at +300.

Enrique should be on the list of any team needing a manager. He has won two Ligue 1 trophies at Paris Saint-Germain, two Coupes de France, three Trophee de Champions, the Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. He also guided PSG to their first-ever Champions League last season in a dominant run.

The 55-year-old Spanish manager is also one of about 30 players to play for both Madrid and Barcelona, and he managed the latter for three years, winning two La Liga titles. He also won La Liga with both clubs.

Enrique is out of contract after this season, and there are no talks of an extension. But he reportedly clashed with Kylian Mbappé at PSG, and Mbappé has the same power at Real Madrid.

Enrique played for Real Madrid, but he made his name at Barça, both as a manager and player. Would the Madridistas approve of Enrique taking over at the Bernabéu?

Iraola’s name doesn’t have the flash of everyone else on this list. But he has done an incredible job at Bournemouth since taking over in 2023. The club has consistently sold the best players, including Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City last week, but Iraola is somehow keeping them in the middle of the EPL table.

The 43-year-old Spaniard played for 14 years in La Liga, and actually played for Antiguoko, a youth club in the Basque Country of Spain, with Alonso and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. However, I think Real Madrid will want to make a splash, and a step up from Bournemouth to Real Madrid might be too much for Iraola. He’s a good manager, but Madrid might be over Iraola’s head.

Like Zidane, I think Iraola’s next Real Madrid permanent manager odds are not a good choice.

I would put Arteta ahead of Unai Emery (+1600) in my options as Emery has done a fantastic job at Aston Villa, but he struggled in his Arsenal stint. He also coached PSG when they were trounced 6-1 by Barcelona in the Champions League after winning 4-0 in the first leg.

Arteta is in the midst of a potentially brilliant season at Arsenal, who are the class of the Premier League and lead the EPL title odds by a wide margin. Arsenal have also let Arteta build the team in his image throughout his six-plus seasons, and the former Gunner wouldn’t want to rock the boat.

At least right now. What if Real Madrid came calling in the summer? I don’t think Arteta will answer that call if Arsenal win the Premier League or the Champions League. However, a failure to bring a major trophy this season could change the situation and open the door to a Madrid move.

Conte has won everywhere he has gone, except Tottenham, which he really can’t be blamed for. But he led Napoli to the Serie A title last season, and they’re in a fight with Inter Milan for this season’s crown.

The veteran Italian manager has also learned to take the handbrake off a little bit. He was notoriously conservative and defensive, but Conte’s Napoli play an attractive style that Madridistas would enjoy. However, the coach would make sure to shore up their defense.

Conte has also never managed in Spain, spending the majority of his career in Italy (managing the national team as well), with stops in England at Tottenham and Chelsea. It would also be entertaining to see him go toe-to-toe with Madrid president Florentino Perez.

If Madrid wants to right the ship quickly, Conte could be their man, and at +2500, the odds are worth a look!