Real Madrid consider Zidane as interim if Xabi Alonso exits - contingency plan on standby

Real Madrid are exploring a contingency plan that would bring Zinedine Zidane back as a temporary manager if Xabi Alonso exits. Despite Alonso sitting first in La Liga and among the last eight in Europe, board-level chatter points to a readiness to act quickly if dynamics change. Zidane, a serial winner in Madrid, remains available and maintains a trusted relationship with the club hierarchy. Fans are split - some doubt Zidane would accept a stopgap role, others question why pressure exists at all given results. As someone who has lived dressing room politics, this is classic Madrid: plan for the storm while skies are clear.

Context around Valdebebas suggests Real Madrid are keeping all options open as the season reaches its decisive stretch. Alonso has the team top of La Liga and tracking well in the Champions League, yet the board is known for preparing contingencies when title races tighten. Zidane has stayed unattached since leaving Madrid in 2021, remains close to key figures, and understands the squad architecture. The club calendar ramps up with critical league fixtures and a European quarterfinal chase, which explains why a short-term, low-friction solution like Zidane is being discussed behind the scenes.

🚨‼️𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Real Madrid could turn to Zinedine Zidane as a temporary manager if Alonso exits. — @indykaila

@ThaEuropeanLad

Impact Analysis

Should Real Madrid pivot to Zidane on a temporary basis, the immediate impact would be stability, clarity of roles, and an instant alignment with the club’s high-pressure standards. I’ve seen squads respond fast to familiar leadership - especially one that has already won everything in that dressing room. Zidane’s man-management is elite. He simplifies asks for stars, keeps the spine confident, and removes noise in front of goal. For players like Vinícius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Mbappé and Valverde, his approach would mean verticality with control - quick diagonals from deep, aggressive occupation of the half-spaces, and confidence to hit transitions without losing defensive structure.

Tactically, a short-term Zidane return points to a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond hybrid depending on opponent press. Bellingham can be the advanced connector, Valverde the runner, Tchouaméni the anchor when fit, with Kroos now gone and Modrić deployed for rhythm late in games. Mbappé-Vinícius would terrify high lines, while Rodrygo’s movements suit Zidane’s preference for fluid front threes. The club’s broader ecosystem - from medical to analytics - already knows his cadence, reducing friction.

Commercially and psychologically, the message is ruthless continuity. Real Madrid protect the season’s ceiling by choosing familiarity. The risk is minimal tactical evolution in the short window, but with this squad’s talent, clarity can outperform complexity. In a title run and European knockouts, that often decides trophies.

Reaction

Fan sentiment is split and loud. One Madridista argued, “I don’t think Zidane will accept the offer if that ever happens,” echoing the view that Zizou would avoid a pure stopgap. Another voice jabbed, “Xabi really won’t make it to January,” reading the tea leaves as classic Madrid impatience. A neutral pointed out the paradox: “Xabi Alonso is 1st in La Liga, top 8 in UCL and there is talk of pressure? I can’t believe this.” That line mirrors what I hear from ex-teammates - results say calm, Madrid’s standards say be ready.

There’s also the fatalist faction - “Delete the club. Much better for football.” It’s noise, but it reflects how dominance and volatility co-exist at Madrid. One cheeky nudge suggested a Premier League detour for Zidane, but the reality is his connection to the Bernabéu is different. Inside dressing rooms, these stories circulate fast. Players scroll, families text, agents probe. My experience - the group pretends it’s background chatter, but subconsciously it sharpens focus. If anything, this kind of rumor compresses egos and demands clean performances. Win and the noise dies. Stumble and the rumor becomes a timeline.

Social reactions

What then happens to his potential national role?

The london Lad (@TheLondonLad_)

Going back to their ex

EddieKAYY🖤 (@KayDanso_)

Alonso left his role at Leverkusen only to be disrespected like this??

₱utin of Warri (@mcfcputin)

Prediction

Three realistic scenarios stand out:

• 1 - Alonso stabilizes and stays: Madrid keep top spot in La Liga, advance to the Champions League semis, and the board shelves the contingency. This is the most logical on current form. The squad’s metrics - chance creation, PPDA in mid-block, and set-piece xG - support continuation.
• 2 - Short shock dip triggers Zidane interim: A two-week wobble around a key away fixture and a European first leg could spark action. Zidane steps in for continuity, settles the front three structure, and leans on high-trust lieutenants. The calendar favors a quick bounce.
• 3 - Hybrid handshake: Alonso aligns with the board on a season-end handover if conditions sour, preserving relationships. Zidane agrees to a defined bridge role with a review in June.

My edge call - if Madrid drop points in two of the next four and look leggy in Europe, phone calls escalate. Zidane will not demand a rebuild or long-term authority, which makes him the perfect emergency fit. For the players, nothing radical changes. Mbappé and Vinícius keep stretching the pitch, Bellingham times late box entries, Rodrygo links and finishes. In short, titles remain on the table.

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Conclusion

I’ve been in teams where a whisper becomes a meeting within 48 hours. Madrid operate faster than most. Whether Alonso stays or not, the club’s readiness to call Zidane says one thing - they refuse to let detail or timing cost silverware. It’s not romance, it’s process. Zidane understands this building, the people, the temperature. He would not need a week to find the right buttons.

From a player’s lens, the message is simple. Keep your lanes, play with conviction, trust the structure. If the change comes, it will be about composure, not reinvention. If it doesn’t, all this noise still serves a purpose - it raises concentration and narrows margins for error. Either way, Madrid’s season is still pointed at trophies. The board have set the runway. The squad has the engines to take off.