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

Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)

Real could scour Europe for Zidane’s replacement, but arguably one of the best choices is in the same city. Diego Simeone has brought lots of success and energy to Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid over the past few years both in La Liga and in Europe.

The former Argentina midfielder is a lot like Zidane — a former player who has harnessed his experiences on the field into that of a role model and leader for players now that he’s a manager. The 48-year-old has done very well domestically despite having a roster that’s weaker than Real and Barcelona.

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Simeone’s tactics are all about strong defending. That doesn’t mean, however, that he favors defensive tactics. Simeone likes to be flexible, depending on the opponent, and uses either a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. His players often concede possession and space to their opponents, but surprise them by bursting forward in quick attacks. Simeone would bring lots of enthusiasm to a club that never gets tired of winning and allow him to win more silverware in the process. It would also weaken and hurt a rival, something that would help Real going into next season.