Real Madrid has dispensed with the services of Rafael Benitez after seven months in charge, and Zinedine Zidane replaces him. Pep Guardiola announces that he decided to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season to manage in the Premier League.
Football has never experienced anything like it.
With Jose Mourinho sitting at home playing FIFA16, and Pep Guardiola declaring his intent to leave Bayern Munich in the summer, the two greatest football managers in modern times are both up for grabs.
But where will they end up?
One of their potential destinations has been crossed off the list.
Rafael Benitez, 55, has been sacked by Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez. The former Liverpool manager spent seven months in charge. He had a win rate of 68%, losing only three times in 25 matches, and steering the Spanish giants into the last 16 of the Champions League.
Queue a glittering return for Jose Mourinho who spent three years at the club between 2010-2013; a lifetime for a Real Madrid manager.
Screech! (that’s my attempt at a needle scratching across a record).
Mourinho can pick that joystick back up off the carpet. He will not be going back to Madrid.
Perez and the gang have decided to promote the former FIFA World Player of The Year, Zinedine Zidane, into the position from his role as B team manager. It’s an appointment that’s gone down well within the hierarchy of football stars, including his fellow teammate, David Beckham, who wrote on Instagram:
“Does it get any better than this ?? A man that has been the best at a game we all love, taking over of a club that myself and many more people love… Someone with drive, passion and also doesn’t accept failure on any level.. Taking over from a manager that has huge experience and respect in the game, but taking on a position that he will relish…THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.”
Zidane, 43, has vowed to do his best to end the season with a trophy. He had better do better than that. The Frenchman is the 11th manager to take charge of Real in the 12-years that Perez has been at the helm.
That means the door remains open for Mourinho to walk into the job at Old Trafford should Louis Van Gaal get his marching orders sometime this season.
There goes that needle again.
United’s players silenced the boo boys with a magnificent display at home to Chelsea followed up by their first victory in 10-games when they beat Swansea, also at home. If United maintain their current form, perhaps Van Gaal’s head will remain on his shoulders?
Another problem that could prevent Mourinho from staying in the Premier League is the announcement that Pep Guardiola, 44, decided to leave Bayern Munich at the end of his contract because he wants to manage in the Premier League. He also told the press that he has received offers from Premier League clubs, but is so far keeping his powder dry.
If this is true, there are only three clubs that Guardiola can manage: Man Utd, Man City or Chelsea. Not even Leicester’s death-defying stunts will prevent that from happening. Mourinho had better hope that Roman Abramovich has already offered Guardiola a spacecraft or something. Otherwise, he could be sitting on the throne at United leaving Mourinho looking for a club somewhere down the pecking order – and wouldn’t Guardiola look good on that throne.
Where will Mourinho and Guardiola end up?
I believe that Mourinho will end up at United and Guardiola at Chelsea.
What do you think?
