real madrid manager search has tightened: Mauricio Pochettino is on the shortlist to replace Álvaro Arbeloa at Real Madrid ahead of next season as the club begins to plan major structural changes. Arbeloa, appointed on Jan. 12, was never presented publicly as a long-term solution and his position is fragile. Club figures are evaluating candidates while also reviewing backroom roles tied to last summer’s heavy spending.
Real Madrid Manager shortlist and why Pochettino matters
The club has started to scout the coaching market and Mauricio Pochettino — the current coach of the United States whose contract runs through this summer’s World Cup — is among the names under consideration. The president, Florentino Pérez, is said to hold Pochettino in high regard, and the coach’s experience with top-level squads is central to his appeal: Pochettino managed high-profile players at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea and coached Kylian Mbappé for two seasons in Paris. At PSG he won three trophies with Mbappé — Ligue 1, the French Cup and the French Super Cup — though a Champions League title eluded him, with exits in the 2021 semifinals and the 2022 round of 16 to Real Madrid.
Arbeloa under pressure; wider squad and scouting review
Álvaro Arbeloa stepped in midseason to replace Xabi Alonso but the length and terms of his deal were not clarified when he was hired. The current coach would reportedly need “a miracle” or to secure the Champions League to have any realistic chance of staying in the dugout next season. The club is also scrutinizing recent recruitment: more than £170 million was invested last summer and several signings have not met expectations, placing the head of scouting, Juni Calafat, under question. Internal planners are considering alternatives across both coaching and sporting departments as they prepare for a busy summer window.
What comes next for the real madrid manager search
The coming weeks are likely to focus on finalizing a list of candidates and mapping out who will lead the new sporting project in the summer. Arbeloa could be offered a different role inside the club, including a return to his former position with the reserve side, Castilla, although he may opt to seek another senior head-coaching job. Meanwhile, Pochettino’s commitments to the United States through the World Cup mean any club move would wait until after that tournament. Expect the club leadership to weigh performance, continuity and transfer strategy when settling on the next appointment for the real madrid manager role.
Field correspondent dispatch: all details above are drawn from the club’s internal movements and personnel notes currently in circulation and reflect the planning shaping Real Madrid’s summer overhaul.
