Real Madrid Next Manager: 5 Potential Replacements For Zinedine Zidane

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

File photo dated 12-08-2014 of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Would anyone be surprised if the circus-style hype surrounding Real Madrid culminated in Cristiano Ronaldo being unveiled as the new manager? At first glance, it'd be an eyebrow-raiser, but given some thought it's hardly impossible. After all, Zidane himself had next-to-no managerial experience before he took the gig in 2016.

Although true that Zidane cut his teeth with Real's B-team first, that was never going to ensure he succeeded in the top job. Someone like Ronaldo would thrive on the pressure of continuing Madrid's success in Europe and biting back at Lionel Messi's Barcelona in the domestic game too.

CR7 is a born winner, and he has shown leadership qualities before. Cast a glance back to the 2016 European Championship final to see him barking orders from the technical area even after being forced off due to injury.

A true leader, Ronaldo is almost destined to become a manager at some point. Seeing him fill the role of player manager for Real would be an exciting jolt in the arm for the Spanish game, offer something different to the club and enable Cristiano to lead on the pitch.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.