Real Madrid eye Pochettino as leading candidate for manager role
Real Madrid have identified Mauricio Pochettino as a leading candidate to become the club's next permanent manager, according to reports from The Athletic and RMC Sport. The Spanish giants are seeking a successor for Alvaro Arbeloa, with president Florentino Perez personally gathering information on the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss and reportedly holding him in high regard.
The search for a new manager has taken on increased urgency following Real Madrid's recent struggles. The club has consistently been outperformed domestically by Barcelona and has now been eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for two consecutive seasons. This context has elevated the importance of the impending appointment, with Perez set to make the final call on a key decision that will shape the club's immediate future.
According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Real Madrid's initial shortlist included Jurgen Klopp, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, and Mauricio Pochettino. A subsequent report from Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport narrowed the realistic field, noting that Klopp, despite having admirers within the Madrid hierarchy, has recently stated he has no intention of returning to management. Zidane, meanwhile, is widely expected to honour a verbal agreement to succeed Deschamps as France manager after the 2026 World Cup.
This development leaves Deschamps, the current France coach, and Pochettino as the primary contenders. However, Hawkins noted that Pochettino is "highly regarded internally, particularly by president Florentino Perez," which is seen as a significant advantage for the Argentine. The club's leadership is understood to have examined his profile and his capacity to handle the intense pressure associated with managing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pochettino is currently under contract as the head coach of the United States men's national team, a role he took up in 2024 ahead of the World Cup on home soil in 2026. His availability would therefore be contingent on the conclusion of that tournament. The 54-year-old built his reputation during a five-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur between 2014 and 2019, where he guided the club to a Champions League final and three of its highest-ever Premier League finishes, though he did not secure a trophy. He later won three domestic honours during an 18-month tenure at PSG before a brief stint at Chelsea.
The potential appointment of Pochettino would represent a significant shift for Real Madrid, who have traditionally favoured managers with either a strong connection to the club or a proven record of winning major European silverware. His potential arrival would signal a project-based approach, focusing on his ability to develop teams and implement a distinct style of play, as he seeks to end the club's recent cycle of underachievement in the biggest competitions.
