The records of Real Madrid coaches under Florentino Perez are well known, but what is less studied is how they got on after leaving the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vicente del Bosque (1999 – 2003): Retired
When Florentino won the elections De Bosque was already in charge at Real Madrid and Los Blancos had won a European Cup and two LaLiga Santanders, though he was interestingly removed from his position after a league win.
De Bosque is now away from coaching after previously taking Spain to victory in the World Cup in South Africa.
Carlos Queiroz (2003 – 2004): Coach of Iran
Del Bosque’s replacement was the ‘unknown’ Manchester United coach Queiroz and he lasted less than a year on the Madrid bench before taking over Portugal without any real success, and he has been Iran boss since 2011.
Jose Antonio Camacho (2004): Without a club
The setback of Queiroz prompted Camacho’s arrival but just a handful of games into the 2004/05 season he was relieved of his duties.
After leaving Madrid he took over Benfica before returning to Spain with Osasuna, then turning to China and Gabon’s national teams.
Mariano Garcia Remon (2004): Without a club
Another Madridista took the reins and lasted just three months before taking over Cadiz in what was his last job as a coach.
Vanderlei Luxemburgo (2004 – 2005): Without a club
Madrid turned to Brazil for a solution to their crisis and a bright start allowed him to start the new season, but he was dismissed in December for poor results.
Luxemburgo returned to Brazil where he led Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras and Santos.
Juan Ramon Lopez Caro (2005 – 2006): Shenzhen Football
Lopez Caro was chosen to carry the team forward after Luxemburgo’s dismissal but was never dismissed by Florentino Perez, who ended up resigning from his own position as president.
After leaving Madrid, Lopez Caro embarked on an extensive career, coaching Racing, Levante, Celta Vigo and then the Spain U21s. He worked in Romania, Saudi Arabia, Oman and now works in the Chinese Super League.
Manuel Pellegrini (2009 – 2010): West Ham United
Florentino Perez returned and did it with Pellegrini on the bench but a bad Champions League campaign meant the end for him.
The Chilean went to Malaga for the following season before winning the Premier League at Manchester City. Now coaching West Ham.
Jose Mourinho (2010 – 2013): Manchester United
Another season without success saw Mourinho arrive at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu after a treble with Inter, and he won LaLiga Santander in his first season, the Copa del Rey in his second, but he never made it beyond the Champions League semifinals.
A return to Chelsea was calling and he went back to London, winning another Premier League title before being sacked. He now works at Manchester United.
Carlo Ancelotti (2013 – 2015): Napoli
Arriving as a European Cup specialist to win the tenth, he duly delivered in his first year on the bench.
He spent a year at Bayern Munich and now works back in Serie A with Napoli.
Rafa Benitez (2015 – 2016): Newcastle
A bad start condemned him from early on and although he made it into the New Year, his fate was sealed by a humbling against Barcelona without Lionel Messi.
Zinedine Zidane (2016 – 2018): Without a club
He arrived as a stopgap and ended up winning three consecutive Champions League crowns.
His own personal decision saw him leave the club this past summer, and he is still waiting for his next job.
Julen Lopetegui (2018): Without a club
Lopetegui thought he landed his dream job when he decided to leave the Spain national team just before the World Cup, but after just six wins in 14 games, he is sacked by Florentino.