Zidane out at Real Madrid: 5 managers who could replace him

Maurizio Sarri (out of work)

The ex-Napoli manager brought entertaining soccer to the Italian city, but that never yielded a league title. Unlike Conte, he’s not a winner and had never coached a big-caliber club. That makes him a dark horse for this job, but his tactics are great enough to put him in the conversation.

Sarri is said to be Chelsea’s next coach (which would free up Conte), but none of those rumors have materialized into a contract. That could change in the coming days, but for now, Sarri is a lame duck manager after Napoli recently hired Carlo Ancelotti.

Known for never wearing a suit and tie and preferring a tracksuit to games, Sarri prefers an aggressive 4-3-3 style with a high press that helps create lots of offense. It would be a system that would highlight the abilities of players like Ronaldo. It would be the type of shakeup that Los Blancos may be looking for, but Sarri isn’t a name that inspires lots of confidence in a fanbase used to big-name managers and players. Sarri is an outsider, something he’s cherished throughout his career, and that makes him a worthy candidate to be Zidane’s replacement.