Real Madrid Next Manager Betting: Conte and Solari favourites to replace Lopetegui

Replacing Zinedine Zidane was always going to be a challenging task but Julen Lopetegui's position at Real Madrid looks increasingly precarious.

A 2-1 home defeat to Levante on Saturday has extended their winless streak to five matches in all competitions.

The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo is being keenly felt at the Bernabeu with the side looking particularly toothless in attack.

Marcelo's second half strike snapped a streak of 482 minutes without a goal for the European champions but things are about to get much tougher.

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A midweek clash with Viktoria Plzen looks a good chance to record a convincing victory but the weekend brings El Clasico and that could be the final straw forLopetegui, even with Lionel Messi ruled out for Barcelona.

With that in mind, William Hill are already betting on the identity of any potential replacement. This market can be found in the football section of the William Hill site by clicking "competitions" then "specials".

William Hill make Antonio Conte the 7/4 (2.75) favourite to be Real Madrid's next permanent manager. The Italian left Chelsea in the summer but had previously guided the Blues to a Premier League title and an FA Cup victory during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The 49-year-old's roles at Juventus and with the Italian national side prior to a successful spell in England make him the leading candidate for this role should it become available - at least according to the odds compilers.

Next in the betting comes Santiago Solari at 9/4 (3.25). The 42-year-old made 131 appearances for Madrid as a player and has been in charge of their B team since 2016.

Los Blancos promoted Zidane to manager of the first team after two years in charge of Castilla - their reserve side - so there is something of a precedent for putting faith in an internal candidate.

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Such a move would seem more viable during the campaign when attracting a blockbuster name would prove much more difficult than it would in the summer months and that's reflected in the market.

Roberto Martinez is a somewhat surprising candidate priced at 5/1 (6.0). Not least because the Spainard has had some success with a Belgium side that look likely to be serious contenders for Euro 2020, albeit this is a job most managers would struggle to turn down at any stage.

Arsene Wenger is one of the biggest managerial names currently available and the former Arsenal boss is likely to be linked with any high-profile vacancy that arises in the coming months. William Hill go 7/1 (8.0) that the Frenchman makes a return to replace Lopetegui.

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Guti was heavily linked the Real Madrid job when it last became available but has since moved on from coaching the club's youth team and is currently an assistant to Senol Gunes at Besiktas.

The 41-year-old spent the vast majority of his playing career at the Bernabeu and is 8/1 (9.0) to return as their next manager.

A host of established names come next with Paddy Power offering 12/1 (13.0) on Jose Mourinho making a dramatic return to Madrid ahead of Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino who are both priced at 20/1 (21.0).

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