Real Madrid shortlist two managers to serve as interim coach should Alonso leave | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso’s days at Real Madrid could be numbered as Real Madrid gear up for their upcoming Champions League game against Manchester City.

Having just suffered a 0-2 defeat to Celta Vigo, another loss against the Premier League giants could effectively see Alonso axed from his role as Real Madrid manager.

As the uncertainty over Alonso’s future continues, Real Madrid have reportedly identified a couple of fallback options to help them carry out the remainder of the campaign.

Solari and Arbeloa: Real Madrid’s fallback options

According to El Larguero, Santiago Solari and Alvaro Arbeloa have emerged as two fallback options should Alonso get axed by Real Madrid this week.

Both the individuals know Real Madrid inside out, with Solari even serving as Real Madrid’s caretaker manager previously in 2018.

Santiago Solari is a candidate to replace Alonso on interim basis. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)

The Argentine is currently serving as Real Madrid’s Director of Professional Football, but he has ample coaching experience to be able to take on the role of an interim manager, at least until the end of the season.

Arbeloa, on the other hand, is currently the head coach of the Real Madrid Castilla squad and is also a leading candidate to replace Xabi Alonso.

The Spaniard has played a key role in honing the talents of several academy players and is a respected figure within the Real Madrid ranks.

While Solari may only be a stop gap option for Real Madrid in the event of Alonso’s departure, Arbeloa offers much more promise and can even turn into a potential long-term replacement for Alonso, if he can prove himself in the interim.

But for now, Real Madrid will be in wait and watch mode as the team takes on Man City in the Champions League this midweek.