MY ACCOUNT
With domestic football set to recommence next week, many under-pressure managers will be looking nervously over their shoulders at the array of freely available coaching talent waiting to take their place.
The same is true in the international game, with federations making decisions as to whether they need a personnel change after the World Cup.
There are some heavyweight names out there waiting for a call from an employer that can tempt them to make a return to management.
With a host of fresh appointments set to be made over the coming months, we have taken a look at some of the top talents that are currently out of work.
Luis Enrique
One of the newest managers to find themselves looking for work is Luis Enrique, who left Spain after their World Cup exit.
Luis Enrique had guided La Roja to the semi-final of Euro 2020 and then the final of the 2020-21 Nations League, so it was something of a surprise to see his side eliminated in the last 16 in Qatar by Morocco.
Nonetheless, Luis Enrique’s tenure in charge of his country was regarded as a success, during a period when the nation was not blessed with the levels of talent that it has enjoyed in years gone by.
At Barcelona, the 52-year-old won two LaLiga titles and the Champions League, before standing down in 2017. Now he seems eager for a return to club management.
When quizzed about his future plans, the Asturian said: “I see myself joining a club and developing a squad with greater finesse and precision than I had time to do with the national team.”
Thomas Tuchel
A manager that could be heading from club management to the international stage is Thomas Tuchel.
The former Chelsea boss has been suggested as a replacement for Gareth Southgate, should the England coach decide to leave his post.
Tuchel was sacked by Chelsea earlier this season, but won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge, along with reaching three domestic cup finals.
He also won two Ligue 1 titles at Paris Saint-Germain and during his time at Borussia Dortmund, guided the Bundesliga club to a DFB-Pokal victory.
If England do not make Tuchel their next manager, then a major club is sure to come calling before long.
Mauricio Pochettino
Another coach linked as a possible replacement for Southgate is Mauricio Pochettino.
With Harry Kane having suffered the disappointment of missing a vital penalty in England’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat to France at the World Cup, his former Spurs boss could be seen as the perfect appointment should Southgate depart.
Under Pochettino, Tottenham became top-four regulars in the Premier League and were Champions League finalists.
Yet the Argentine received criticism for failing to land a trophy with the North Londoners and a solitary Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France victory was seen as a disappointing return during his spell at PSG, before being sacked last summer.
Now waiting for his next opportunity, what Pochettino does have in his favour is a reputation for playing attractive, adventurous football and building a strong relationship with players.
Marcelo Bielsa
Pochettino’s mentor Marcelo Bielsa is also waiting for his next managerial role to materialise.
Bielsa’s last position saw him take Leeds from the Championship into the Premier League, where the West Yorkshire club managed a ninth-placed finish in 2020-21.
A poor start to last season amid a number of injuries to key players, resulted in the Argentine being sacked from a job that had given him his longest reign as a club manager.
Now 67, Bielsa held talks over a Premier League return at Bournemouth earlier this year, while he has also been linked as a replacement should Frank Lampard be dismissed by Everton.
Another option is for the former Argentina and Chile boss to make a return to the international stage, with Uruguay said to be considering him as a successor to Diego Alonso.
Zinedine Zidane
An international job is also said to interest Zinedine Zidane, who has been tipped to become the next manager of France.
Prior to this World Cup, Les Bleus were in poor form and there was a lot of speculation regarding Zidane succeeding his former team-mate Didier Deschamps as coach.
Four years after winning the World Cup in Russia, Deschamps has guided his country to the semi-final stage of the 2022 tournament. It could now be up to Deschamps as to whether he continues as national coach or not.
That could leave Zidane in limbo, with no natural fit at club level seemingly available in the short-term.
Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. With two LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues on his resume as a manager, it seems only a matter of time before he takes on his next challenge.
