Klopp, Alonso, Guardiola: Predicting what happens to Europe's top managers this summer

The managerial carousel is spinning faster than ever. With Manchester United and Real Madrid already hunting for new head coaches after the dismissals of Ruben Amorim and Xabi Alonso, the market is bracing for a summer of unprecedented upheaval. Add the uncertain futures of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Arne Slot at Liverpool and Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain, and the continent’s elite clubs could soon be jostling for proven leadership all at once.

United’s short-term fix is Michael Carrick, unbeaten in four matches since taking temporary charge on 13 January. Yet Old Trafford’s powerbrokers still crave a serial winner; Carrick’s previous Middlesbrough sacking and limited résumé leave him an outsider for the permanent post. Bayern-bound Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti—both Champions League victors—head the wish-list, but United’s self-stated lack of urgency may hand Carrick an unexpected lifeline. Inside Old Trafford, the growing whisper is that another month of victories could make the interim tag permanent.

Across the Iberian peninsula, Real Madrid are expected to pivot away from the youth-project model that backfired with Alonso. Club president Florentino Pérez has long courted Jürgen Klopp, now overseeing Red Bull’s global football operation, and sources believe an approach is inevitable. If Klopp demurs, Madrid could turn to familiar faces: Zinedine Zidane for a record third spell, or Ancelotti for a third stint, should he leave Brazil after the 2026 World Cup.

Manchester City face a succession dilemma of their own. Guardiola, 18 months from the end of his deal, has dodged questions over next season, fuelling speculation that a decade in Manchester will conclude in May. City have quietly identified Vincent Kompany—currently steering Bayern toward another Bundesliga crown—as their preferred heir. Bayern, however, will resist; should Kompany depart, they are poised to re-sign Alonso, whose philosophy and playing history in Munich make him the natural fallback.

At Liverpool, Slot’s maiden trophy defence has unravelled. A £450 million summer splurge has not prevented a slide from the top four, while Mohamed Salah’s public misgivings underlined dressing-room friction. Miss Champions League qualification and Anfield bosses may cut short the Dutchman’s tenure, potentially reigniting a tug-of-war with Bayern for Alonso’s signature.

PSG, meanwhile, hope to remove themselves from the market by tying Luis Enrique to an extended contract. Talks have accelerated after French media reported the Spaniard’s openness to a new challenge; sporting advisor Luis Campos is determined to keep the architect of last season’s vibrant, youth-driven Champions League triumph.

Elsewhere, Newcastle and Tottenham could soon be shopping. Eddie Howe’s England ambitions align neatly with the FA’s post-World Cup vacancy once Thomas Tuchel’s short-term deal ends; Newcastle, aware of the alignment, are already sounding out Tuchel as a replacement. Spurs’ Thomas Frank, recruited only last summer, is battling relegation nerves and fan unrest; Mauricio Pochettino’s return after leading the United States through the World Cup is viewed inside the club as the sole remedy.

Even Portugal is braced for movement. Benfica expect José Mourinho to accept the national-team post when Roberto Martínez steps aside, clearing the path for Ruben Amorim—sacked by United after 14 difficult months—to rehabilitate his reputation at the Estádio da Luz, where he spent nine years as a player.

With the 2026 World Cup compressing timelines and contracts expiring in its aftermath, clubs know hesitation could mean missing their first choice—just as United did when they settled for David Moyes in 2013 while rivals moved swiftly. This summer, the stakes are higher, the names are bigger, and the clock is ticking.

Europe’s giants have barely three months to decide: move early, or risk being left behind in the greatest managerial scramble of the decade.