After crashing out of the Champions League, Los Blancos will be surveying their options for a new manager with plenty of candidates available…
Real Madrid's three-year reign as Champions League holders is over after a shock loss to Ajax and that result has cast increasing doubt over the future of coach Santiago Solari.
The Spanish giants are no stranger to a swift managerial switch and there are plenty of candidates currently available should Solari get sacked – be it now or at the end of the season.
Here are just some of the coaches Real Madrid could be considering…
Getty Images1Jurgen Klopp
Widely considered as one of the best coaches in the world, Jurgen Klopp is exactly the kind of Galactico appointment that would help Real Madrid re-energise the dressing room.
A man motivator as well as a tactical genius, he has turned Liverpool into genuine title contenders for the Premier League following the Reds' impressive journey to the Champions League final last season.
Klopp would be an expensive option for Madrid due to the fact his contract at Anfield runs until 2022. However, Klopp is fully aware that there is likely to be speculation over his future this summer even if he can bring silverware back to Merseyside.
"In the summer, there will be people who say it's the best time for me to go if we win something because we will never win anything again, there will be other people who say I have to go if we don't win anything," he told in December.
AdvertisementGetty2Clarence Seedorf
Among the candidates to replace Lopetegui, Seedorf was ultimately overlooked but clearly still has his eyes set on coaching them one day.
“The fact that I have been among the options is already a great honour for me," Seedorf told Goal in March.
"I feel like a place that is my home, where I wasn't treated good, but more than good. Always.
“Returning one day would be an honour for me…"
Seedorf was appointed Cameroon's manager in August last year but has won just one of his first five games in charge.
He began his coaching career with AC Milan in 2014 and despite impressing was replaced by Filippo Inzaghi after just four months.
Getty Images3Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta very nearly became Arsenal manager last summer and a move back to his home country may be in the works before long. Arteta has spent the last few years learning from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and if he has picked anything up from him he could become an incredible manager one day.
As a student of Guardiola, Arteta would likely promote an attacking possession-based style which would please Madrid's very demanding fans.
One sticking point, though, could be Arteta's history as a player with Barcelona.
Getty4Claudio Ranieri
From being sacked by Fulham to Real Madrid manager?
It would be an extraordinary turn of fortunes for Ranieri, who was never really given a chance to implement his style at Craven Cottage, but crazier things have happened – Leicester City winning the Premier League for example.
Having previously coached in Spain with Atletico and Valencia, the Italian knows the region well.
Considering he was able to turn the Foxes into Premier League winners, it would be interesting to see what he could do with Real as they currently are.
Ranieri may be a long shot, but having coached over 1000 games, his experience can't be questioned.