Key Takeaways:
- Real Madrid suffered a Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich
- Alvaro Arbeloa is almost certain to depart as manager, with the club experiencing failures in all competitions this season
- Real Madrid are considering Jurgen Klopp, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, and Mauricio Pochettino as managerial candidates, with Pochettino currently the most likely option
Disappointing Season Ends with Champions League Exit
Real Madrid’s hopes for silverware this campaign have been dashed after their defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. The nine-point deficit to Barcelona in La Liga means the club is set to endure a second successive season without a major trophy.
Arbeloa’s Future in Doubt
Adhering to the pre-season expectation that a deep Champions League run was crucial for his job security, Alvaro Arbeloa now finds himself on the brink of departure. Real Madrid hold an option to extend his tenure, but with failures across the Champions League, La Liga, and the Copa del Rey, reports from The Athletic indicate that the possibility of Arbeloa continuing is extremely remote. Despite Arbeloa’s calm demeanour in his post-match comments from Munich, the decision on his position appears all but made, with his removal expected before the summer.
🚨🚨 BREAKING: Alvaro Arbeloa will VERY LIKELY leave Real Madrid after this season. @MarioCortegana pic.twitter.com/U4vIDA0LeX
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 15, 2026
Candidates to Succeed Arbeloa
Attention at the Bernabeu will now shift rapidly towards the summer, as the need for a new managerial appointment becomes paramount before any transfer activity can progress. President Florentino Perez and the board have already lined up an array of targets, as reported by The Athletic, including Jurgen Klopp, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, and Mauricio Pochettino. While Klopp is the preferred candidate, convincing the former Liverpool boss to resume management remains uncertain. Among those under consideration, Mauricio Pochettino currently stands as the most probable option to take over in the summer.
| Managerial Candidates | Current Status | Club Preference |
|---|---|---|
| Jurgen Klopp | Available | Preferred |
| Zinedine Zidane | Available | Considered |
| Didier Deschamps | Available | Considered |
| Mauricio Pochettino | Available | Most Likely |
What Lies Ahead for Los Blancos?
With Real Madrid’s season effectively concluded, decisive moves regarding the management are anticipated in the coming weeks. A new appointment could set the stage for a summer of restructuring and squad reinforcement, as the club looks to put a difficult campaign behind them and re-establish their position at the summit of European football.
