Real Madrid are expected to appoint a new man in the dugout this summer. Zinedine Zidane is at the exit door.
The Los Blancos boss had to deal with speculation about his future for months because his contract had expired.
Zidane has told his players that he will move on at the end of the year, which means Florentino Perez will be looking for a new head coach.
The Spanish giants are not the force of the old days as several players move on and others are entering the latter stages of their careers.
The next man in the door has to oversee something of a rebuilding that could be exciting but also prevents certain people from taking the job.
The Italian is currently one of the favorites to take on Zidane, who could still take on a role at Allegri’s former employer Juventus.
During the 53-year-old’s time in Turin, he won Serie A five times and added the Coppa Italia four times.
As a free agent, he remains an attractive, no-compensation offer along with his proven track record.
Perez may not like Allegri’s somewhat pragmatic style, but with Los Blancos in transition, an adaptive manager could be just what he needs.
However, the tactician has not yet recorded any success in the Champions League, as he was twice close in the final and Europe is an important measuring point in Madrid.
The Madrid legend once held the club’s top scorer record before a Cristiano Ronaldo hit.
He spent almost two decades at the Bernabeu before leaving in 2010, but is now back to coaching the club’s B-team and youth.
Perez has shown his willingness to nurture Zidane from the inside out as the B-team coach and may again feel that a club legend who understands their traditions is the answer.
After 15 years after the European Championship this summer, he will resign from his position as German head coach.
Germany’s coach Joachim Low [Reuters, Maxim Shemetov]
Low’s grand finale came in 2014 when he won the World Cup, although his numbers have fallen slightly since that triumphant night.
What could speak against him, however, is his lack of new work as a daily manager, since his last club job came in 2004 at Austrian Vienna.
It remains unclear whether Low would like to take some time to play before deciding whether to return or not.
Another Italian manager who might be considered for the post in Madrid. After his success at Inter Milan, Conte has just won a championship title with a third other club.
Conte’s future at San Siro is far from certain as Inter face financial problems as some of their top players could potentially leave.
That could lead to the departure of their coach, who is scheduled for showdown talks, and give him the freedom to look elsewhere.
However, the Italian isn’t shy when it comes to voicing his or her opinion so a relationship with Perez would certainly make an interesting watch.
A year after winning the Champions League, he was punished as Los Blancos boss when he was shown the door in 2015.
But Ancelotti could be on a return to the Bernabeu, with Perez not against recruiting managers.
The Italian is currently trying to lead Everton to Europe but could undoubtedly be lured back to Madrid if things go right.
Ancelotti is still highly valued by those in the Spanish capital who would certainly be welcome again.
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