We’re still waiting on Real Madrid next manager odds after the shocking dismissal of Xabi Alonso! Just one day after saying he was safe, Madrid parted ways with their former player. So, who will take over at the Santiago Bernabéu?
I’ll give you my top candidates to take over for Alonso, and give my best answer after this article!
Real Manager Next Manager Betting Odds
The Real Madrid next manager odds aren’t out yet, as this move caught many, including soccer betting sites, by surprise!
The news came out of nowhere on Monday afternoon, just one day after Madrid lost 3-2 to rival Barcelona in the Supercopa de España.
Alonso’s tenure has been marked by controversy. Notably, Vinícius Júnior reportedly told Madrid he wouldn’t sign an extension while Alonso was in charge. Reports also say some of the team’s senior players didn’t agree with some of Alonso’s tactics. Alonso, who played for Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich, only took over the club in May 2025, after Carlo Ancelotti left to manage Brazil.
Another former Real Madrid player, Alvaro Arbeloa, oversaw Real Madrid Castilla. But he will take over for Alonso, likely on a temporary basis. Arbeloa played 238 games for Madrid, where he won one La Liga title, two Champions Leagues, two Supercopa de Espana, two Copa del Rey titles, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.
As soon as the Real Madrid next manager odds are released, I’ll give you an update. But here are a few candidates I think could take over at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Top Candidates to Replace Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid Manager
Here are my top five candidates you could see among the Real Madrid next manager odds!
Enzo Maresca
Maresca will be one of the top candidates 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!
Jürgen Klopp
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.
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.
Don’t be surprised to see him among the next Real Madrid manager odds!
Zinedine Zidane
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. He would step down after this season, and then Madrid will be looking for a new manager again.
Zidane is a legend at the Bernabeu, and for good reason. But he has his sights set on France, so I wouldn’t put too much into his Real Madrid next manager odds.
Andoni Iraola
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, although they’re currently in a slump. Bournemouth also just sold their best player, Antoine Semenyo, to Manchester City.
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.
Luis Enrique
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 also out of contract after this season, and there are no talks of an extension.
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?
Real Madrid Next Manager Prediction
I think Zidane could be next if Madrid decides to go the temporary route, or maybe to stick with Arbeloa for the rest of the season. But my Real Madrid next manager prediction on a permanent basis is Jürgen Klopp! Madrid is seventh in the league phase of the Champions League, and four points behind Barcelona in La Liga. Madrid didn’t win a trophy last season, and that’s not good enough for their fans, as well as the ownership.
Klopp would inject energy into the team, and he knows how to get the best out of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has struggled since leaving Liverpool, where he had his best form under Klopp. I think Real Madrid would back the money truck up for the German, and ask him to name his price. Let’s take Jürgen Klopp in our Real Madrid next manager predictions, and hope we get some value when the odds are released!
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