Carlo Ancelotti has found himself under the microscope again, and if Real Madrid are unable to secure any silverware in the 2022/23 season, the legendary manager could be on his way out the door just one season after winning yet another Champions League for the club, as well as LaLiga.
But as is customary in Madrid, if a manager does not win a title, they are dismissed. Ancelotti’s Madrid are pretty much out of LaLiga after their recent Clásico defeat, while they already lost to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercup Final. They are down in the Copa del Rey but not out, while they remain among the favorites to win the Champions League – Carlo’s signature competition.
As frustrated as some Madridistas may be with Carletto, it is not easy to find a replacement for him. There are not many better managers available – if any.
But if Real Madrid decide to fire Carlo Ancelotti despite a myriad of pressing issues in the squad, here are three best possible replacements available.
You be the judge on if these managers are better options than Carletto.
Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso is by far the most intriguing manager available. The former Real Madrid (and Liverpool..and Bayern München) icon is one of the most beloved and respected figures in modern football. He was known for his reading of the game and leadership on the pitch, and he has taken those same traits to the manager’s seat.
Already on Madrid’s radar before the 2022/23 season, the club was anxiously waiting to see Alonso get a big opportunity. After Bayer Leverkusen fired Gerardo Seaone after a nightmare start to the season in which Die Werkself were flirting with the relegation places, Alonso got that chance.
He has transformed Bayer since joining, giving them the hope of European football. Since his appointment, Leverkusen have been a top-four side in points gained. Overall, they are 8th in the table, sitting just three points behind the European places. Meanwhile, in European competition, they are safely through to the quarterfinals.
Alonso may not be ready to be a Real Madrid manager yet, but he has so much future upside and is so good at working with young players. Tactically and motivationally, he has checked off all the boxes for Leverkusen thus far.
Thomas Tuchel, Free Agent
The biggest name available, Thomas Tuchel unforgettably led Chelsea to the Champions League Title in 2020/21, even eliminating Real Madrid. Really, he embarrassed them in that semifinal. Then a year later, Madrid eliminated him, but that was thanks to individual quality. Tuchel had the perfect game plan set, but his players could not execute the simplest of tasks.
Truly, Tuchel was let down by Chelsea. They never really backed him, they undermined him on the transfer market, and new manager Todd Boehly did not believe in him either. The same thing happened at PSG. Tuchel gave them more than they ever had in European football, yet they made him a scapegoat.
Even at Dortmund, Tuchel was tremendous in the league, but he was just going up against the impossible Bayern München juggernaut. He clashed with the club, but that’s because he wanted certain things that BVB just could not logistically provide him. Hence the moves to PSG and Chelsea.
Real Madrid are a less volatile ship than PSG or a Boehly-run Chelsea, and while they do not have the financial resources of an entire country or oligarch, they have plenty of ammunition on the transfer market. As we saw with the Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni signings, they usually get the targets they want.
Tuchel has a reputation for being tough to work with, but that comes from people in football with much sketchier reputations – Leonardo and Boehly.
Oliver Glasner, Eintracht Frankfurt
Oliver Glasner is the wild card of the three options. He was mediocre in the Bundesliga last season, leading Eintracht Frankfurt to a mid-table finish. But he was dynamite in the Europa League, winning the entire competition and qualifying for the Champions League in 2022/23.
Eintracht are now out of the Champions League, but that’s not after making it to the knockout stages. Glasner was successful in leading his team to the Champions League before his appointment as Adi Hütter’s replacement in Frankfurt, accomplishing this task with the usually disappointing Wolfsburg side.
One of the best coaches in Germany right now, Glasner’s Eagles are actually the ones three points ahead of Xabi Alonso’s Werkself. Glasner is an unknown to most Real Madrid fans and not nearly as exciting as Thomas Tuchel, but he is a better option than others who will be linked to the club, such as Mauricio Pochettino.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.