If Real Madrid sack Alonso, who replaces him? Klopp, Zidane or a short-term fix

A hypothetical question has ignited a sharp debate: if Real Madrid part ways with Xabi Alonso, who is realistically next? Supporters pitched Jürgen Klopp and Zinedine Zidane as the most credible names, with Oliver Glasner floated as a left-field but intriguing fit. Others argued there is simply no clear upgrade available right now and that changing for the sake of change risks disrupting a title-caliber squad. The market is thin, timing matters, and Madrid's roster - stacked with Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham - needs a coach who can manage egos, tempo and transitions without ripping up what already works.

The discussion erupted across European football forums and fan communities after a public question asked who Real Madrid could hire in the event of a managerial change. The debate quickly centered on elite options rumored to be open to a new project, past club legends with proven track records, and an emerging coach succeeding in the Premier League. The conversation reflects wider scrutiny of the current coaching market and how timing, compensation and tactical fit dictate big-club decisions.

Serious question. If Real Madrid sack Alonso who do they actually get to replace him realistically?

@ThaEuropeanLad

Impact Analysis

If Madrid ever move, the choice is less about names and more about fit. Klopp remains the archetype for high-energy, vertical football and fast transitions. With Mbappé, Vinícius and Rodrygo, that front line was built to attack space, press in waves and punish turnovers. Klopp could tune the press to protect Bellingham between the lines and let full backs time overlaps without exposing the back line. The challenge is load management and control against deep blocks, where Madrid often win with patience and craft. That would require Klopp to lean into his more mature Liverpool phase, where rest-defense and game-state control defined the run-in wins.

Zidane offers something different - the supreme man-manager who thrives in the Bernabéu’s unique pressure. He has proven he can turn elite talent into a cohesive dressing room and win at knockout speed. With Bellingham’s late penalty-box surges and Mbappé’s gravity, a Zidane setup could resemble his second tenure’s structured 4-3-3 or asymmetrical 4-4-2, anchoring transitions around balance and experience. The trade-off is that Zidane usually demands complete alignment from upstairs to the dressing room and picks his moments carefully.

Glasner is the modernist curveball. His Palace has shown aggressive counter-pressing, clean rest-defensive structures and smart spacing in a 3-4-2-1 or flexible back four. Tactically, he can maximize wide isolation for Vinícius and Mbappé while keeping Bellingham central as a timing weapon. But jumping from a mid-table Premier League project to Madrid overnight is a different storm, especially in spring.

The real constraint is timing and risk. Madrid rarely change mid-season unless the floor falls out. Compensation for a contracted coach, squad adaptation time and Champions League jeopardy are all real costs. In that light, stability often wins.

Reaction

Fan sentiment split into three clear camps. First, the optimists who believe an elite name is within reach, with Klopp emerging as the favorite. They argue his sabbatical timing, tactical profile and personality would mesh with Madrid’s star core, and they frame him as a day-one accelerator. Second, the traditionalists who call for Zidane. They point to his Champions League pedigree, calming presence and unique chemistry with the Bernabéu crowd. The case is simple: when the club needed stability before, Zidane delivered trophies and order.

The third camp says don’t fix what isn’t broken. Their point is pragmatic: the market is thin, the season’s rhythm is unforgiving, and a change without a clear upgrade can backfire. Within that strand, a minority offered an outside shout for Oliver Glasner, praising his structure and adaptability, but even they admitted that scale and timing could be harsh teachers. A few voices floated the idea that continuity plus targeted tweaks - staff additions, set-piece specialization, or conditioning - could beat the chaos of a full reset. Together, the reaction underscores a single truth: the coach must fit the squad, not the other way around.

Social reactions

They should go for crystal palace Oliver glasner

Asap Tolani (@mukitomogbolah2)

Klopp is waiting by his phone, and I think he would do a great job. Alonso will probably end up at Liverpool next.

James Woolley (@steady_profits)

Would it hurt to retain him and try to make some improvements?

Chico 🪬 (@CHICOW3B)

Prediction

Short term, the likeliest scenario is Madrid backing continuity. The club typically resists mid-season upheaval unless results crater across competitions. If turbulence does force a change, a contained solution makes the most sense: a short-term Zidane return remains the cleanest path, stabilizing the room and protecting Champions League margins. He knows the building, the expectations and where the pressure points hide.

Across a summer horizon, Madrid could test Klopp’s interest once he is fully ready to re-enter. If the timing aligns, he offers the clearest tactical identity for a squad built to run, press and punish space. The club would, however, insist on game-state control that matches their European ambitions. As an outside option, Oliver Glasner is credible from a tactical standpoint, but any approach would require compensation, delicate negotiations and a hard proof that his principles scale under Madrid’s scrutiny.

Probability ranges today: stay the course high, caretaker option medium if form collapses, elite summer hire possible with the right timing. One personal note from covering Madrid’s 2018-19 search: the market can look barren on Monday and pivot by Friday. Calls get made, conditions shift, and the right deal can appear late. Expect patience, then precision.

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Conclusion

Strip away the noise and the answer is simple. Madrid do not change coaches unless they can upgrade with certainty. Klopp and Zidane meet that threshold in different ways, one with a pressing blueprint that suits Mbappé and Vinícius, the other with a man-management mastery that extracts calm in chaos. Glasner’s name is smart because his structure travels well, but scale and timing are real tests and compensation adds friction.

The squad context matters. With Bellingham’s timing in the half spaces, Rodrygo’s flexibility between wing and nine, and the constant threat of Mbappé and Vinícius in space, any incoming coach must protect transitions and preserve chemistry while adding marginal gains in set plays and build-up balance. That is why the default is continuity until the perfect door opens. Madrid have learned this lesson the hard way in past cycles. Stability while the market clears, then a decisive strike when the right profile is free or prised loose. If a change ever arrives, expect it to be deliberate, not reactive.