Julen Lopetegui is no longer Real Madrid manager
Lopetegui’s ill-fated spell at the Bernabeu – which cost him the chance to manage Spain at last summer’s World Cup – came to an end earlier this week, following Real’s El Clasico battering at the hands of Barcelona over the weekend.
Santiago Solari, who had been in charge of the European champion s’ B side, has now stepped in to take charge of the club ahead of their Copa del Rey trip to Africa on Wednesday, but there’s a feeling that Florentino Perez will look to appoint a more long-term replacement at the end of the season – possibly sooner.
Several familiar names have already been linked with the job, one of which being former Wigan Athletic and Everton boss, Roberto Martinez.
The Spaniard is currently in charge of Belgium’s national side, having guided them to a third-place finish in Russia in the summer. According to James Ducker of The Telegraph, Real are eager to speak to Martinez about the possibility of him taking the job at the Bernabeu.
Martinez only penned a two-year extension to his contract with the Belgian FA in May, and while the report points out that the KBVB would be reluctant to see him leave his position, there is also an acceptance that such an opportunity may be too good for him to turn down.
Antonio Conte, who left Chelsea in the summer, had appeared to be favourite to replace Lopetegui at the Bernabeu. However, the prospect of his appointment reportedly did not sit well with some of the senior players in Real’s squad, prompting Perez to consider other options. Conte is also said to have withdrawn himself from the running after expressing concerns about taking charge pf Real midway through a season.
Jose Mourinho is also reportedly one of the men being considered for the role, although appointing the current Manchester United boss would likely not be a popular decision with some of the players who remember how his first spell in charge at the club ended in 2013.
