Marcelo Gallardo recently rebuffed the advances of Premier League strugglers Leeds United and Southampton and is now being tipped to take over at La Liga giants Real Madrid instead.
It is not every day you see a group of players openly and publicly championing the appointment of a manager under contract elsewhere. Brazil’s interest in Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti is so well-established, however, that even some of the Selecao’s biggest stars have felt emboldened to discuss the veteran Italian’s Madrid future in front of the world’s media.
“Firstly, what we players would like to have is a coach capable with great players,” Brazil captain Casemiro said last week.
“As far as Ancelotti is concerned, he is a coach that I already know, I know very well. He is a friend of mine. He is someone I have admired in football, and it was a pleasure to work with him.”
Florentino Perez has certainly sacked managers for less. Real Madrid are trailing Barcelona by 12 points in La Liga. Even another Champions League triumph may not be enough to keep Ancelotti in a job.
Especially when the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino are both available and looking for work; two coaches with plenty of admirers at the Santiago Bernebau.
Could Marcelo Gallardo replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid?
Marcelo Gallardo, having never before worked on this side of the Atlantic, would represent something of a left-field choice. But, after picking up 14 trophies in eight years at River Plate – a record which Pep Guardiola himself describes as ‘incredible’ – Gallardo certainly possesses the winning mentality required to stand the heat in the footballing pressure cooker that is Real Madrid.
“I have no doubts that Gallardo can dream of coaching Real Madrid,” former Argentina international Walter Montillo tells TNT Sport.
“It would be great for an Argentine coach to be at the highest level in a top team.”
Gallardo embarked upon a Guardiola-esque sabbatical after leaving River Plate in December; both Leeds and Southampton falling short when attempting to convince the 47-year-old to throw himself head-first into the midst of a Premier League relegation battle following the sackings of Jesse Marsch and Nathan Jones.
“His main quality is how gets across his ideas. The way he conveys what he wants the team to do on the pitch. Another great virtue is how he manages the work. He is all about the details,” explains Marcelo Tulbovitz, who spent half-a-decade alongside Gallardo at River Plate.
“If he has to sub off someone, he does not count to three. He’s not capricious in those things. He has an aggressive and offensive vision of the game. He is pragmatic, not tied to a system, and he is quick to read his rival.
“Marcelo is on top of everything at world level.”
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