Manuel Pellegrini looks set to be added to the list of one season wonders at Real Madrid after his expensively assembled team crashed out of the Champions League last night to Lyon. Losing 1-0 from the first leg, Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu stadium in front of their disgruntled fans as they failed to reach the last eight of the Champions League  for a remarkable 6th consecutive year. Such is the dissapointment in Madrid that Pellegrini’s fate has now been sealed no matter how the rest of the campaign goes, they are currently top of La Liga but its understood that even a league crown for the side will not be enough to keep the former Villarreal Boss in a job. There are some glittering names on the list of Managers who have only lasted one season in Madrid and they include England boss Fabio Capello who was sacked despite winning La Liga, its not good enough to win for Real Madrid but the style of football also has to be attractive.

It was made perfectly clear at the start of the season that the Champions League would be the priority for a team that spent in excess of £250million in the Summer, the team were dubbed the ‘new Galacticos’ after signing Kaka, Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso for huge transfer fees. Ronaldo has settled in well in Madrid but maybe looking on enviously at his former Man United teammates as they were crushing AC Milan at the same time as Madrid were being knocked out by Lyon. Publicly at least the powers that be have backed Manuel Pellegrini who has another year to run on his contract but behind closed doors it is understood that they have already started their search for a successor.

There will be two names who will jump to the top of the list for potential replacements in the Summer and they will be Arsene Wengerand Rafa Benitez who have both been linked to Madrid in the past. The Sack Race understands that Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have been approached several times in recent years to take over at Real Madrid but that their advances have been rebuked each time. Wenger is clearly the man they want long term but the Arsenal Manager will know that he will not get the same power at the Bernabeu as he enjoys at the Emirates, at Arsenal he is in control of the entire playing side of the club but at Madrid he would have to accept being just the first team coach with no say on transfers.

The logical choice would be Rafael Benitez who is a well known Real Madrid fan having played and coached there in the past as well as being born and bred in the City, he is under huge pressure at Liverpool and may see this as the ideal chance to jump ship. Liverpool are reluctant to sack Benitez due to the huge contract pay-off he would recieve but an approach from Madrid may well be welcomed by both sides as the board at Anfield look for a reason to get rid of Rafa. One sticking point in this deal for Benitez would be similar to Wenger’s in terms of control at the club, Rafa has total control at Anfield currently in terms of the playing side and he would have to be prepared to give that up if he went to the Bernabeu.

That search will begin now as Pellegrini is a dead man walking at the moment having lost the dressing room, the support of the fans not to mention Florentino Perez, the Club President was expecting success in Europe with his investment and that has not been forthcoming. The £60 million Kaka was substituted on Wednesday night after having a poor game and was clearly unhappy with the decision showing dissent as he left the pitch and that is just another nail in the Manager’s coffin.

Real Madrid Manager On the First Day Of Next Season Betting With Skybet as of 11/03/2010

Jose Mourinho 11/8
Manuel Pellegrini 3/1
Rafa Benitez 4/1
Arsene Wenger 6/1
Guus Hiddink 16/1

Odds Supplied Courtesy Of Skybet.com

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