Zinedine Zidane’s sudden departure at Real Madrid caught everybody by surprise, but the Blancos will not be rushing into appointing a successor as they seek to identify the right candidate for the job.
Those at Santiago Bernabeu had been hoping to enjoy a relatively quiet summer, with attention shifting towards World Cup matters in the wake of a historic third successive Champions League triumph, Goal reported.
Zidane’s decision to step down following their 3-1 victory over Liverpool has scuppered plans for a period of stability and continuity, with the Frenchman stunning players, supporters and officials with his resignation.
Madrid was not prepared for this, with no Plan B drawn up which would have a ready-made alternative already in their sights.
It did not take long, however, for feelers to be put out to those considered to be leading candidates for the role, with Tottenham Hotspurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino top of the list. The Spurs boss faced questions regarding a possible return to Spain at an event to promote his new book on Friday, with the former Espanyol coach offering cryptic responses as he countered a commitment to a newly-signed contract in England by leaving the door open to future challenges elsewhere. However, freeing the Argentine from a deal through to 2023 will not be easy.
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