Real Madrid Junction

After seven days of searching in vain for a new manager, Real Madrid appear no closer to replacing Zinedine Zidane, and it may be dawning on them that the Bernabeu hotseat has become a job very few top coaches really want right now.Mauricio Pochettino said last week: 'We are talking about a club that 100 per cent of coaches dream of managing one day,' but he clearly feels that it's not a position you take if you are happy elsewhere.When one reporter told him it was a something no one could turn down he responded: 'You may think so, but you are not me.' RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Antonio Conte 'turns down Real Madrid job' as Italian wants... 'Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't own Real Madrid': Marcelo insists... 'It's not that serious... he'll be back with us as soon as... Premier League transfer window: Latest club-by-club football... Share this article Share 1.8k shares In part Pochettino is staying at Tottenham because Madrid are not prepared to negotiate with Daniel Levy, but there is also an element of him not being convinced this is the best time to take an opportunity he believes will come around again.Jurgen Klopp is also not interested in leaving Liverpool, where he has absolute control, to join a club that were not prepared to let the coach who delivered them three Champions League and a domestic title in two-and-a-half years make the important decisions for next season.Klopp would also be massively expensive, but Madrid dare not try because they sense he would not accept the somewhat submissive nature of the job. Joachim Low ruled himself out early on. He prefers international management to club management because of the lower stress levels. If you are concerned about stress you don't go to Madrid.Massimiliano Allegri also ruled himself out this week after he became Real Madrid's next target. He was no more willing to walk away from Juventus than Klopp and Pochettino are from Liverpool and Spurs.Rejections from the big names have left Real Madrid focusing on coaches who are out of work such as Arsene Wenger, Michel and Michael Laudrup; coaches who are already at the club such as Guti and Santiago Solari; and a manager, Antonio Conte, who may be unsuitable in terms of temperament or brand of football, but is at least soon to be available and has a proven track record. Conte, Michel and Michael Laudrup are currently the three names on the table but as the days pass nothing is impossible. Quique Sanchez Flores has been mentioned, and the club could even wait to see if the World Cup throws up any options.It's not ideal to have to wait so long but there was a long gap between Jose Mourinho leaving and Carlo Ancelotti arriving, although the deal was done long before it was announced.The pull of the world's biggest club – especially for players – is still seen as huge but Zidane's departure is a reminder that for managers it's often a hiding to nothing: if you lose you're sacked; if you win, well, you don't get much of the c