Real Madrid hold strong admiration for former Premier League manager | OneFootball

In the immediate aftermath of Xabi Alonso’s dismissal, it was only a matter of time before potential replacements began to surface. 

Real Madrid are once again at the centre of the managerial conversation, and as expected, several high-profile names are being linked with the Bernabeu job. 

As such, the latest to enter the discussion is a coach who was recently relieved of his duties in the Premier League.

A Club World Cup winner

According to a report from Santi Aouna, former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is a figure who is admired within Real Madrid. 

While there is no suggestion of advanced talks or a formal approach, the report highlights that Maresca’s work has not gone unnoticed by the club’s decision-makers, especially at a time when Madrid are assessing long-term options.

For now, however, Real Madrid have chosen continuity over haste. The club have opted for an internal solution, with Alvaro Arbeloa stepping in as interim head coach. 

Behind the scenes, the focus is already shifting towards the bigger picture, which is appointing a new manager capable of leading the next phase of the project. 

Real Madrid admire the work of Enzo Maresca. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Unsurprisingly, Zinedine Zidane’s name was quickly mentioned. However, the Real Madrid legend is believed to have a verbal agreement in place with the French national team, making a return to the Bernabeu highly unlikely at this stage.

Jurgen Klopp has also been linked in recent days, adding further weight to the idea that Madrid are looking at experienced and internationally respected profiles. 

And now, Maresca’s name joins that growing list.

A Guardiola prodigy

The Italian coach is widely regarded as a student of Pep Guardiola, having worked closely within the Guardiola coaching ecosystem. 

His footballing ideas are clearly influenced by positional play, structured build-up, and control through possession, principles strongly associated with the former Barcelona coach. 

Maresca was appointed Chelsea manager in 2024 and enjoyed a mixed spell in London. 

Despite lifting two trophies – the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup – he was dismissed earlier this month as Chelsea opted for a different direction.