It is little secret that Real Madrid are contemplating the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti.
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The Italian manager has again failed to win the Spanish championship this season, while his Merengues have failed to retain the Champions League after falling in the semi-finals to Juventus.
Memories are short at the Bernabeu, and failure is not tolerated—despite winning the long-awaited ‘Decida’—the tenth European Cup—last season.
Ahead of the Italian’s potential departure, Marca conducted a survey in which they asked 30030 respondents about who they wanted to replace the former AC Milan and Chelsea coach.
In this feature, we run down the key candidates to replace Ancelotti and rank them in the order that they are favoured by Marca’s readers.
5. Zinedine Zidane
Surprisingly, perhaps, only 7.4 percent of respondents to Marca’s survey want Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane to replace Ancelotti.
The World Cup winner—who lifted the European Cup with Real in 2002—is currently the club’s assistant manager, having previously been youth team coach.
While few would doubt that Zizou will one day take the hotseat at the Bernabeu, it seems as though the club’s fans don’t feel he is yet ready for the big job.
4. Joachin Low
Germany coach Joachim Low became the first German coach to win the World Cup in 24 years when his Mannschaft defeated Argentina in Brazil last summer.
The former Stuttgart coach impressed with his stylish brand of attacking football and his ability to deal with big personalities and get the best out of top players.
Fichajes reported in January that Real were lining Low up as a potential Ancelotti replacement, but it only nine percent of Marca’s respondents favour the German.
3. Unai Emery
Slightly ahead of Low in the pecking order—on 10.9 percent—is Unai Emery.
The current Sevilla coach has worked wonders with the Spanish side in Europe, lifting the Europa League last term before guiding the Rojiblancos back to the final of the European second-tier continental cup this season.
While Emery has previously managed the likes of Valencia and Spartak Moscow—with mixed success—he has never taken charge of a club of the stature of Real.
2. Michel
The next-most popular contender for the hotseat at the Bernabeu is Michel.
Like Zidane, he is a former Real Madrid player, having come through the ranks of the club before playing 404 times for the side between the early 80s to the mid-90s.
The Madrid-born coach also represented Spain.
His managerial career has not been glorious, and despite winning two Greek titles with Olympiakos, he hasn’t yet achieved great success as a coach.
Perhaps appealingly to Florentino Perez, he is a former Real Madrid B team coach. 14.7 percent of Real fans want him as the side’s next coach.
1. Jurgen Klopp
Overwhelmingly, in the eyes of the Real fans and Marca readers, Jurgen Klopp is the best man to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
44 percent of respondents named the Borussia Dortmund man as the coach they would most like to see replace Ancelotti at the Bernabeu this summer.
For Perez, Klopp would clearly be an appealing option, as he has confirmed that he will be leaving Borussia Dortmund this summer, he will definitely be available and looking for work.
However, if the two-time Bundesliga champion is to move to the Bernabeu, Real might have to move quickly.
Paris Saint-Germain, Fenerbahce, Manchester City and Barcelona have all also been linked to the 47-year-old.