Not Klopp: Perez's Favorite to Return as Real Madrid Boss Revealed
4 February 2026
Inside Real Madrid's Coaching Dilemma
Real Madrid's board is busy searching for a new head coach, amid a divide in opinions and no clear consensus name to replace interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over after Xabi Alonso's departure mid-season.
ESPN reports Madrid has not yet settled on a final candidate to lead the team, as internal disagreements persist about the best fit for the next chapter.
Sources say Florentino Perez, the club president, has Frenchman Zinedine Zidane at the top of the shortlist to take charge again, seen as the closest match to his vision and the most familiar with Madrid's recent history.
But Zidane's France ambitions complicate the plan
The main hurdle is Zidane's apparent desire to coach the French national team after the upcoming World Cup, which leaves his Real Madrid future undecided for now.
ESPN notes that despite past links to Jurgen Klopp, the German coach currently shows no interest in moving to Real Madrid, keeping him out of the current decision loop.
Until a final resolution emerges, Madrid's coaching situation remains unsettled.
Punchline 1: If patience were a player, Madrid would win the league by the time this article finishes.
Punchline 2: They say you can’t buy happiness, but you can hire a coach—yet happiness still has a long wait on backorder.
