It looks to be a big summer in the football manager market and there are some huge holes to fill.
With so many big-name managers out of work at the moment, will we see anyone on this list making a managerial return in the near future?
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Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp insists he won’t miss management. It would certainly be a shame if we saw the last of Klopp on the sidelines.
Klopp is the kind of manager you don’t often see in modern football, someone who can elevate an entire club from its roots and become its face. He achieved this with Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, winning league titles in Germany and England, as well as the 2019 Champions League.
However, perhaps that’s why he’s content to oversee Red Bull’s operations. In an era where sporting directors have more power than ever before, Klopp’s desire for total control may not be realized.
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Zidane
Zidane’s managerial career has been a curious one. He joined Real Madrid and lifted trophies, including an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League titles.
After a short break, he returned to Spain again, won more trophies, and rode off into the sunset. He has not been seen in the dugout since 2021.
After the World Cup, a job in the France team will become available and it may be the role that Zizou has been waiting for.
Xabi Alonso
Things haven’t quite gone to plan for Xavi Alonso at Real Madrid. Alonso became Europe’s most coveted coach when he led Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title without losing a game. He awaited warm-up games at the Bernabeu, but friction in the dressing room led to a brief stay at Espanyol.
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His stock hasn’t taken a big hit and a super club is expected to come calling in the near future. Former club Liverpool have been linked with a move if Arne Slott fails to salvage their season.
Harvey
Alonso’s former Spain teammate Xavi had a short but successful coaching career. He learned the ropes with Al Sadd in Qatar before returning home with Barcelona. In two and a half seasons in Catalonia, he led Barcelona to the La Liga title despite difficulties both on and off the pitch.
The 46-year-old is yet to return but one of the greatest brains in modern football will surely be back on the touchline soon.
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Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca left Chelsea in January amid growing tensions with the board. It’s hard to blame Maresca for this stance, as Chelsea’s recruitment chaos is enough to drive any manager crazy.
Despite the constant emergence of players and the need to sign emerging talent, Maresca guided Chelsea to Champions League qualification and the divisional league in his first year.
This summer he shattered his chances of winning the Club World Cup, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final. Manchester City have earmarked Maresca as a potential replacement for Guardiola.
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim’s reputation at Manchester United has certainly taken a hit. Amorim was sacked last month after a poor 14 months at Old Trafford, with Michael Carrick’s subsequent interim performance further denting Amorim’s share price. But there’s a reason the 41-year-old was so coveted before arriving in Manchester.
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He led Sporting Lisbon to two league titles, the first of which ended the capital club’s nearly two-year title drought. He refused to adapt to an unhealthy Amorim in the Premier League, but this is a period he can learn from. He is still young and can come again.
Roberto Dezerbi
Guardiola once called Roberto De Zerbi “one of the most influential managers of the past 20 years.”
Who are we to argue with the greatest management guru of modern times?
De Zerbi announced his withdrawal from Marseille and returned to the market. He is an in-demand manager after achieving superb results at Sassuolo and Brighton before improving Marseille.
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Despite the potential for explosions, it’s fascinating to see De Zerbi handed the reins of a club with elite resources.
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate hasn’t coached a club team for 16 years, but his time with England earns him a spot on this list. Southgate has led England to two consecutive European Cup finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, making him the most successful England manager since Alf Ramsey.
Of course, critics will say he didn’t actually winanythingBut unifying an England team that had been divided in the dressing room did him plenty of credit.
