Ten Managers Ready for the Summer Shuffle: Alonso Tops the Wish List

Some of football's finest minds are currently between jobs, and several can afford to be selective about their next move. Others, though, might be hoping for panic buying before summer truly kicks into gear.

The managerial carousel has been particularly busy this year, with Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid all contributing to the talent pool of available coaches.

10. Thomas Frank

The Dane's Tottenham stint ended in disappointment, leaving him with the unenviable distinction of being Spurs' permanent manager with the worst win percentage. Still, it's Tottenham—context matters when assessing reputational damage.

A sabbatical could restore his market appeal, though his failure to replicate his Brentford magic at White Hart Lane serves as a cautionary tale about transplanting analytics-driven managers into traditional environments. Crystal Palace might circle, though a foreign adventure could equally tempt him.

9. Ruben Amorim

The Portuguese finds himself just above the manager he lost to in a Europa League final—who has since been dismissed twice over. Amorim's fifteen months at Old Trafford proved brutally humbling. He won almost as many as he lost despite lavish spending, became wedded to a system that never functioned, and watched United flourish immediately after his departure. That final detail stings.

At 40, he can lean on lessons learned or blame Old Trafford's corrosive culture. His Sporting credentials remain intact, even if this experience has smarted.

8. Ange Postecoglou

Sacked by Spurs despite delivering on his second-season trophy promise, Big Ange's stock remained surprisingly robust. The pairing with Evangelos Marinakis always seemed incongruous given the owner's impatience, but terminating the arrangement after 39 days was swift even by Forest standards.

Postecoglou will likely seek opportunities abroad, though a Celtic reunion holds romantic appeal. A return to Spurs would have been delicious theatre.

7. Sean Dyche

The firefighter deserved a proper blaze to extinguish at Spurs, but they handed the keys to Roberto De Zerbi's representatives instead. Dyche's 114-day Forest interlude barely registers—managerial casualties at the City Ground are simply part of the furniture.

6. Enzo Maresca

A World Cup-winning manager who was already being earmarked as Guardiola's eventual successor at City before his acrimonious Chelsea exit. His eighteen months at Stamford Bridge enhanced rather than damaged his reputation, despite imperfections.

Leicester made overtures, but Maresca appears determined to ascertain City's timeline before committing elsewhere.

5. Zinedine Zidane

The question lingers: is Zizou a generational talent or simply a Real Madrid genius? His Bernabeu record is immaculate—three Champions League triumphs, consecutive trophy hauls, and a pair of La Liga titles. Only Carlo Ancelotti can match his European pedigree.

Yet the appetite persists to see him prove himself beyond the Spanish capital. He's been linked with PSG, Manchester United, and Chelsea, and while he's cited English language concerns as a Premier League barrier, few doubt his quality. Al-Hilal's £84 million offer didn't tempt him. He seems content for now, with the France job presumably his next realistic target.

4. Gareth Southgate

Southgate recognised the moment for personal reinvention alongside a fresh chapter for England. His Euro 2024 campaign—culminating in England's first foreign-soil final—paradoxically may have dimmed his elite-club prospects. Manchester United speculation always felt fanciful, particularly with Dan Ashworth departed from Old Trafford.

He might sensibly sidestep the domestic circus altogether. A foreign posting could appeal, or perhaps the corporate world beckons. Seeing him engage with players daily rather than bimonthly would be intriguing.

3. Andoni Iraola

Iraola's three-year Bournemouth tenure positions him among summer's most coveted commodities. Athletic Bilbao won't be calling—Edin Terzic is sorted there—but Iraola appears to be waiting for something grander while conscious of time's passage.

"I don't know if I'm going to coach next season. I have no rush to know it," he said following his departure announcement. "The decision has not been affected by any other club."

Chelsea are sniffing around, though Iraola would apparently require persuasion. Perhaps that's wise thinking.

2. Xavi

His Barcelona exit was unnecessarily messy, and he subsequently spoke of taking a year away. That's stretched toward two years now. Will he return to management?

Signs suggest yes. Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked, and he's expressed Premier League interest—albeit for a specific type of project. "There's no hurry for me, but I'd like a good project. Like, 'You have four years to work and make a project'. I'd love to work in the Premier League, I love the passion there. In Spain, it's too much about the result," he explained.

1. Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid and Alonso parted by mutual consent in January, instantly crowning him Europe's finest available manager. Los Blancos waited twelve months to appoint him, then sacked him after seven. His record—20 wins from 29—might have satisfied most, but trailing Barcelona by four points and losing the Clasico Super Cup final proved sufficient for Florentino Perez's trigger finger.

Alonso remains a proven winner. Bayer Leverkusen's 2022/23 season saw him deliver a Bundesliga title, DFB Pokal victory, and a Europa League final appearance—their only defeat all campaign.

His shadow looms over Arne Slot at Liverpool, while Manchester City are reportedly keen on him as Guardiola's eventual successor.