Real Madrid Shortlist Mauricio Pochettino as Top Candidate to Replace Arbeloa in Major Blow to Tottenham Recovery Plans

USMNT's Mauricio Pochettino is a top candidate for the Real Madrid job, potentially ending Tottenham's summer hopes as they battle Premier League relegation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 7:10 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Football365

A Shifting Hierarchy at the Bernabéu

Real Madrid’s managerial landscape has undergone a period of intense volatility following the January dismissal of Xabi Alonso. While Alvaro Arbeloa was immediately installed as a successor, internal reports suggest he was never viewed as a permanent solution for the Spanish giants. After a string of poor results, including two losses in his last three La Liga fixtures, the club’s hierarchy has begun actively evaluating long-term candidates to spearhead a new sporting project. Mauricio Pochettino, currently the head coach of the United States Men’s National Team, has now surfaced as a high-priority target for President Florentino Pérez, who reportedly holds the Argentine in high regard.

The Waning Prospects of a Zidane Return

For months, rumors of a third stint for Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabéu provided a glimmer of hope for Madridistas, but those prospects are now rapidly fading. Reports indicate that Zidane has reached a verbal agreement to take over the France national team following the conclusion of the World Cup. This development has forced Real Madrid to look elsewhere for an elite tactician capable of managing a star-studded locker room and implementing a cohesive sporting vision. With Zidane out of the picture, the path for Pochettino to transition back to European club football has become significantly clearer, presenting a formidable obstacle to other interested suitors.

Tottenham’s Relegation Crisis Dampens Reunion Hopes

In North London, the prospect of Pochettino returning to stabilize a collapsing Tottenham Hotspur remains a popular sentiment among the fanbase. However, the club’s current reality is stark: Spurs are currently just one point above the Premier League relegation zone. The dismissal of Thomas Frank and the subsequent struggles of interim boss Igor Tudor—who has lost every match since taking charge—have left the club in a desperate fight for survival. Sources suggest that if Tottenham were to suffer the ignominy of dropping to the Championship, any remaining chance of luring Pochettino away from his international commitments would effectively vanish.