REAL MADRID are seriously considering life after Zinedine Zidane with reports in Spain naming Mauricio Pochettino and Massimiliano Allegri as possible replacements.
Although the French icon brought a trio of Champions League titles to the Bernabeu on his first stint at the club, his second spell is not going to plan.
Pochettino was sacked by Spurs in NovemberCredit: EPA
Sunday’s loss to Real Betis pushed Los Blancos off the top of the LaLiga table and they are 2-1 down ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg trip to Manchester City.
Should Zidane, 47, fail to add a major honour to January’s Supercopa de Espana title, many expect him to depart once again.
According to MARCA, Real president Florentino Perez assured the coach that his job was safe just days before El Clasico – which Madrid won 2-0.
However things can change fast in the Spanish capital and Pochettino, 48, once again finds himself linked with the job.
The Spanish daily reports that the former Tottenham boss sees the Real role as a dream, helping him decide to reject Barcelona’s advances earlier in the season.
And he may even get the call before the end of the season if Madrid drop out of the title race and fall to City in Europe.
Also said to be on the shortlist is ex-Juventus coach and six-time Serie A winner Allegri, 52.
The Italian has previously remarked that he does not want a new job mid-season but nonetheless is reportedly seen as possessing the sort of CV that Real seek in a manager.
Zidane still has plenty of time to turn his fortunes around before a change will be guaranteed.
On March 17, Real go to Manchester looking to overturn the 2-1 deficit having initially taken the lead in the first leg.
And their run-in to the end of the league season features tricky trips to Real Sociedad, Athletic Club and Granada.
Allegri left Juventus last summer after winning five Serie A titlesCredit: Reuters
Ex-Tottenham boss Pochettino scores incredible hole-in-one playing foot golf while in Qatar for Fifa Club World Cup
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
