Real Madrid are reportedly considering appointing Santiago Solari as interim coach to cover the gap between Carlo Ancelotti’s expected departure and the appointment of a permanent replacement, according to reports.
Ancelotti, who returned to Madrid in 2021 and led the club to two Champions League titles in four seasons, is set to part ways with the club after a disappointing season. The team’s exit in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, combined with losing the domestic title to Barcelona, means Ancelotti is likely to be dismissed 12 months before his contract expires.
With Ancelotti tipped to become Brazil’s head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Real Madrid are already looking for a new manager. Xabi Alonso is reportedly their top target, though Jurgen Klopp is not considering a return to coaching at the moment. Bayer Leverkusen are also expected to allow talks with Alonso if they materialize.
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Given the scheduling of the 2024/25 season, with the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup taking place in June and July in the United States, there is limited time to secure a permanent appointment. La Liga will finish for Madrid on May 25, while Leverkusen’s season concludes on May 17, leaving only a narrow window for a managerial handover.
If a permanent coach is not signed in time, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Solari could be brought in as an interim solution for the Club World Cup.
Solari, who previously managed Real Madrid in 2018/19 after Julen Lopetegui’s sacking, has a history with the club, having played 217 games for Madrid from 2001 to 2005. During his short tenure as head coach, he won 22 of 32 games, including the Club World Cup, but was dismissed after a heavy Champions League defeat to Ajax.
With Ancelotti expected to leave at the end of the season, the need for an interim coach in the short term seems increasingly likely. Real Madrid’s first match in the new Club World Cup is scheduled for June 18 against Al Hilal in Miami.
