Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti could be replaced by a shock name as a Premier League boss is linked with a move to the La Liga side.
Ancelotti, 65, watched his Real Madrid side fall to a 2-1 defeat (5-1 on aggregate) against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
And despite Los Blancos still being able to win a domestic double - they sit second in La Liga and have already reached the final of the Copa del Rey - Ancelotti is under pressure.
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On Thursday (August 17), Sky Sports reported that the Italian is “expected to leave the club” following the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona in Seville on April 26 – although this information has not been confirmed by Real Madrid.
If reports are accurate, Ancelotti would not take charge of Madrid’s last five La Liga fixtures – including ‘El Clasico’ on May 11.
The report goes on to claim Brazil want to appoint Ancelotti, having parted ways with Dorival Junior following defeat against Argentina in March.
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So, who could replace the veteran?
Well, according to Oddschecker, former Real Madrid midfielder and current Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is still the favourite to take on the mantle.
However, Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is also in the running after impressing on the south coast, with the Cherries sitting in eighth place in the Premier League.
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Iraola, 42, is no stranger to La Liga, having played in the division on 406 occasions for Athletic Club before going on to manage Madrid-based side Rayo Vallecano.
In March, Bournemouth owner Billy Foley told talkSPORT that the club are keen to extend his stay at the Dorset club.
“Tiago Pinto [sporting director] is talking to his agent and has been talking to Andoni, and we are raising the topic,” said Foley.
“I hope that when I'm over in late April or Easter, that I will have a chance to sit down with him and just talk to him about what his goals are and his aspirations.
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“I know that our aspirations will equal his. He wants to do well, wants to build winning teams, and we're here to support him.”
“He's an excellent coach, a humble man, but he is serious and he really is a great coach of our team, and he leads their team, so we're definitely engaged in all these matters,” Foley added.
However, when Real Madrid come calling, very few players and managers turn them down.
Topics: Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, La Liga, Football, Champions League, Premier League
Luke Alfred Davies