It’s only January 13th, but we’ve already seen managers sacked at Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid since the beginning of the month.
The most recent is Xabi Alonso, who was given his marching orders by Real Madrid yesterday despite having a decent record this season with 24 wins from 34 games and an overall winning percentage of 70.59.
However, there is no doubt that the Spanish tactician will remain in demand, having previously done an excellent job as Bayer Leverkusen manager.
Alonso’s unbeaten run in the Bundesliga and his place in the Europa League final saw him heavily linked with the Liverpool job to replace Jurgen Klopp, but he was ultimately replaced by Arne Slott.
Where will Xabi Alonso go next after leaving Real Madrid?
Still, with Liverpool currently struggling in Slott’s second season and Man United having a vacancy, could we see Alonso return to the dugout soon?
The 44-year-old may not have been the perfect fit for Real Madrid or the unique demands of the job, but he is certainly a player that could appeal to clubs like Liverpool or United, depending on their standings by the summer.
Here are the clubs worth keeping a close eye on when it comes to Alonso’s future in the coming months.
liverpool
Liverpool, another of Alonso’s former clubs during his playing days, are also certain to not stick to the slot if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. The Dutch tactician has probably brought a bit of luck to the team he inherited from Klopp, and Alonso’s style of play may be a better fit in the long term.
manchester united
If you’re a fan of online slot games or any other form of casino or betting site, you’ve probably been keeping an eye on the odds for Manchester United’s next manager, and with the Red Devils yet to formally name a replacement for Ruben Amorim and hiring an interim manager until the end of the season, Alonso is certainly now part of the equation. United could hardly have asked for a better name to be available.
manchester city
With Josep Guardiola’s future in doubt heading into the summer, could the Man City job suddenly become the ideal opportunity for Alonso? One might imagine that he would be a good successor to Guardiola, having played under him at Bayern Munich and adopted similar tactics in his team throughout his managerial career.
chelsea
Chelsea have just hired Liam Rosenior, so a vacancy won’t necessarily appear immediately, but we do know that the Blues tend to make managerial changes quickly if things don’t go well. Rosenior is inexperienced and the job is a bit of a gamble, so Alonso may be keeping an eye on how things pan out at Stamford Bridge by the end of the season.
arsenal
Mikel Arteta has done a great job at Arsenal but the trophy is yet to arrive. If they still fail to win a title at the Emirates after spending so much money in the summer, the Gunners could start considering a change in manager to take the next step, with Alonso showing he can deliver silver.
bayern munich
Even if Vincent Kompany, another of Alonso’s former teammates, fails to make it in the Champions League, this will probably be another notable job. Although it seems a long way off for now, Bayern will be aware of what Alonso has achieved with Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, and would certainly be an attractive big club for the Spaniard.
P.S.G.
Finally, Luis Enrique is another big-name manager who has not signed a new contract with PSG and is set to leave this summer. Alonso is certainly a strong candidate to build on the strong work Enrique has done there, but is he himself that keen on a job that in some ways has too many similarities to the difficulties encountered at the Bernabéu?
