27.12.2021 - Heading towards the festive Christmas period is a time of joy for most people. The thought of giving and receiving presents, the chance to spend time with family and friends, not to mention all the great food and treats to be consumed. But spare a thought for the humble football manager, as this can also be one of the most difficult times of year for them.
There will inevitably be some managerial casualties through December and early January, as club chairman or presidents make that fateful decision to wield the axe, seeking fresh impetus for their teams. Although that’s unfortunate for those facing the sack, it also means fresh opportunities for currently unemployed managers. Many of the leading bookmakers also offer odds on managerial appointments.
Before deciding who to back for the next big job that becomes available, it helps to have some sound advice. According to this guide to the best Arabic betting sites, safety and security should always be primary considerations, as Arabian Betting only publish reviews for trustworthy online bookmakers. Speaking of key factors like security and trust, they could be what lures these two superb yet unemployed managers back to work.
Diego Martinez
During three spectacular campaigns with Granada CF in Spain, Diego Martinez achieved what can only be considered miraculous results. When he took the reins at the start of the 2018-19 season, Granada were languishing in the Second Division, yet after quickly imbuing his team with a team spirit the Three Musketeers would be proud of, they immediately won promotion to LaLiga.
Despite being tipped as relegation candidates, Martinez and Granada were having absolutely none of that, heading into the 2019-20 campaign in the Spanish topflight. Battling fiercely to defy all expectations, Granada finished in seventh position and qualified for the Europa League, securing continental football for the first time in the club’s 90-year history.
Diego Martínez loves football. That might be stating the bleedin’ obvious but it really comes across when you talk to him. Here he is on his time in England. https://t.co/rWfNklxT3A
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) November 29, 2021
The remarkable leadership of Martinez continued to attract great praise, as Granada overcame countless injuries and other difficulties to finish ninth in LaLiga, along with reaching the quarter finals of the Europa League. Martinez had achieved all this with one of the smallest budgets in the Spanish elite, yet at the end of the 2020-21 he walked away, unable to agree new terms with Granada.
Martinez has already rejected three job offers in Spanish football, following approaches from Getafe, Levanted and Elche. In the meantime, the former Granada boss has been spending time in England, first near London and then in Manchester, soaking up and studying the football culture. As one of the brightest young managerial prospects around, the 41-year-old would find it hard to resist coaching in the Premier League.
Zinedine Zidane
Arguably one of the greatest attacking midfielders ever to grace a football pitch, once the hair had gone and the legs were tired, Zinedine Zidane was always destined for management. After working in the technical department at Real Madrid, along with being assistant to Carlo Ancelotti in 2013, he became RM Castilla manager in June 2014 and earned his coaching badges.
The big job came at the expense of Rafa Benitez in January 2016, with Zidane immediately appointed as first team head coach on the same day his predecessor was fired. What followed was nothing short of spectacular, especially in the Champions League, as Zidane became the first coach to win the continental competition three times in a row. He also added two UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs apiece, plus a LaLiga title and the Supercopa de España for good measure.
PSG have been speaking with Zinedine Zidane for "several weeks" as a potential successor for Mauricio Pochettino, according to Le Parisien ? pic.twitter.com/zp02wG0qfm
— GOAL (@goal) November 26, 2021
At the end of that exceptional three-season run, much to the stunned amazement of club president Florentino Perez in May 2018, Zidane walked away. Although it seemed the mercurial Frenchman had had enough of management, following the disappointing tenures of Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, sure enough, Zidane was lured back into the Bernabeu hotseat for another exciting roll of the dice.
Zidane was able to add another LaLiga title to his already impressive CV, yet his second and final spell at the helm was disappointingly short of silverware. Even though his position was considered untouchable, Zidane walked away from Real Madrid again in May 2021 and this time for good, apparently. Having since rejected Manchester United enquiries, the 49-year-old appears to be biding his time, possibly waiting on the PSG or French national team jobs.
Other Top Names
While these two excellent managers deserve swift returns to the dugout, there are several other high-profile coaches who are still seeking new opportunities. They include former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde, along with highly rated ex-Roma coach Paulo Fonseca, both of whom are constantly linked with available jobs. Maybe if the right offers come along, they will finally step back into the madness of management, ready to accept the pressures that inevitably come with the territory.
