Ranking Real Madrid’s last 10 managers by points per game
Real Madrid are one of the most successful clubs in world football, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy job for managers.
On Monday, Julen Lopetegui was given the chop after only 14 games in charge. But he’s not the only manager to be given a rough ride at the club.
We take a look at the past 10 managers of Real Madrid to see how they fared.
10. Julen Lopetegui
Real’s sacking of Lopetegui brought an end to a dismal five months for the manager, who was sacked as Spain boss on the eve of the World Cup after agreeing to take over at the Bernabeu.
The sale of Cristiano Ronaldo might’ve had an impact but a terrible start to the season got worse when Real were beaten 5-1 by Barcelona in El Clasico.
Lopetegui was shown the door the following day.
Overall record: W6 D2 L2
Points per league match: 1.40
Trophies: 0
9. Juan Ramon Lopez Caro
Taking over from Vanderlei Luxemburgo in December 2005, Caro had a short spell at Real.
He led them to a runners-up finish in La Liga, but Real were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16, while they reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
The boss only took over on a temporary basis and his contract wasn’t renewed.
Overall record: W17 D10 L6
Points per league match: 1.88
Trophies: 0
8. Fabio Capello
Capello was coach for Real between 1996 and 1997, winning La Liga, and returned for a second spell in 2006 but became regularly criticised for his conservative tactics.
Not only this, but he had a fraught relationship with players such as David Beckham and Ronaldo.
Still, he claimed his second La Liga title in the 2006-07 season but was let go the following summer.
Overall record: W28 D12 L10
Points per league match: 2.0
Trophies: 1
3 – Real Madrid have failed to score in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since January 2007 under Fabio Capello. Drought. pic.twitter.com/ZvDmFAq4Yh
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 2, 2018
7. Rafa Benitez
An emotional Benitez was unveiled as Real boss in June 2015 but, despite his Madrid roots, he became an unpopular figure at the club in a short space of time.
The club topped their group in Europe in 2015-16 season but reports filtered through that some of the players were unhappy with Benitez’s methods.
Benitez was dismissed just seven months after his appointment, with the club in third place in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.
Overall record: W25 D5 L3
Points per league match: 2.06
Trophies: 0
6. Bernd Schuster
Schuster was appointed the manager of Real Madrid in 2007 and made an impressive start, leading Los Blancos to their 31st league title while winning the Supercopa de Espana for good measure.
The manager’s temperament was a problem, however. He had frequent bust-ups with the media and even, at one point, said that his side stood no chance in beating Barca in an upcoming clash, which didn’t go down too well.
He left the club in December 2008.
Overall record: W44 D9 L22
Points per league match: 2.13
Trophies: 2
5. Juande Ramos
Ramos became Real manager in December 2008 but ultimately only lasted 27 matches.
Under his guidance, the club embarked on a run of 52 points out of a possible 54, but a heavy 6-2 defeat to Barcelona stopped the momentum and they went on to lose four consecutive matches, eventually finishing second in La Liga.
In the cup competitions, Liverpool beat Real 5-0 on aggregate in the first knockout stage of the Champions League, while they were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 32.
Ramos’ tenure only lasted six months, with the Spaniard sacked in June 2009.
Overall record: W18 D1 L8
Points per league match: 2.17
Trophies: 0
4. Zinedine Zidane
Zidane was a Real legend from his playing days and his time as manager only enhanced his status as a Bernabeu icon.
The former France international stepped into the hot seat in January 2016, taking over from Rafa Benitez halfway through the season, and led Los Blancos to the Champions League title, beating local rivals Atletico Madrid in the final.
In his first full season in charge, Zizou won the La Liga title and added a second consecutive Champions League.
Zidane went on to win three Champions League titles with Real, back to back, putting him alongside Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti as the only managers to have won the competition three times.
Overall record: W68 D18 L10
Points per league match: 2.30
Trophies: 9
3. Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti was announced as manager in 2013, with Zinedine Zidane and Paul Clement as his assistants.
The Italian led Real to their first Champions League triumph since 2002 in his first season, completed the much-desired ‘La Decima’, while they also claimed the Copa del Rey and went on to add the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Despite scoring 118 goals, Real finished second in La Liga in 2014-15, while they also fell short in the Champions League semi-finals and Copa del Rey.
In a similar scenario to that which he faced at Chelsea, Ancelotti was sacked after failing to replicate the heights of his first season in his second.
Overall record: W89 D14 L16
Points per league match: 2.36
Trophies: 4
2. Jose Mourinho
In May 2010, Mourinho signed on the dotted line to become Real Madrid boss after guiding Inter to a historic Treble.
Despite a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, which Perez called it the worst game in Madrid’s history, Mourinho survived and beat his rival in the Copa del Rey final.
In his next season, the Portuguese boss won La Liga title and Supercopa de Espana, but he developed a fraught relationship with Sergio Ramos and captain Iker Casillas, and this led to a divide between supporters, some in favour of Mourinho and some against.
He left by mutual agreement after a trophyless third season.
Overall record: W128 D28 L22
Points per league match: 2.43
Trophies: 3
READ: ‘He was fantastic’ – How Jose Mourinho helped aspiring manager taking badges
1. Manuel Pellegrini
After a successful period at Villarreal, Pellegrini took over as manager of Real in 2009, signing a two-year contract.
The Chilean bought Kaka from AC Milan, Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Xabi Alonso from Liverpool, with Pellegrini saying, “If we want to win the Champions League and be the best team in the world, we need the best players in the world.”
In his first season, Real were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by second tier side Alcorcon. Real came runners-up in La Liga, despite claiming 96 points, and Pellegrini was sacked in May.
“I didn’t have a voice or a vote at Madrid,” he later reflected. “They sign the best players, but not the best players needed in a certain position. It’s no good having an orchestra with the 10 best guitarists if I don’t have a pianist.”
Overall record: W36 D5 L7
Points per league match: 2.53
Trophies: 0
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