5 Big-Name Unemployed Managers and Where They Might Go Next

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Much like star players, big-name managers have been known to generate intense media coverage. That's especially true when they're out of work and potentially looking for a new gig.

Think of it as the transfer market or the rumor mill for managers. They have plenty of star power and resumes to back it up.

Now all they need is a team.

Here are five of the biggest managerial names currently without a club—and a guess as to where they might go next.

Pep Guardiola

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Most recent club: Barcelona

Pep Guardiola is the biggest managerial name currently thought to be on the market. If he were a transfer prospect, he might be Radamel Falcao or Neymar—such is the intense interest he's sure to draw.

Guardiola, 41, left Barcelona at the end of last season after leading the club to 14 titles in four years. He developed Barca's trademark possession-based style and made the Blaugrana into one of the best club teams of all time.

This season, he's reportedly relaxing with his family in New York. But reports have already indicated he wants to return to management next season (via Daily Mail).

AC Milan, Manchester City and Chelsea have been listed as possible destinations (via ESPN FC).

What's next? It's too soon to know where Guardiola will manage next, or even whether or not he will return to the touchline next season.

It does, however, seem likely that he will be back next season.

Chelsea would be an interesting option, but so would AC Milan. The Rossoneri struggled at the start of this season and remain in 14th place in Serie A. Manager Massimiliano Allegri might be looking for work next season, and Guardiola might just be the man to replace him.

Harry Redknapp

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Most recent club: Tottenham Hotspur

Harry Redknapp had Spurs hanging around the English Premier League title contenders for much of last season before the roller coaster ran off the tracks. Redknapp flirted with the England job for most of the spring but was unexpectedly sacked in June and replaced with former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas.

All together, that made the 2011-12 season a major disappointment for Redknapp, 65. But as a highly experienced manager (previous gigs with Bournemouth, West Ham, Portsmouth twice and Southampton), he shouldn't be out of work for long.

What's next? Redknapp was linked with the Blackburn job last month (via Daily Telegraph) before the position went to Henning Berg. He was also linked with the Scotland job but he seems uninterested (via BBC Sport).

The BBC has reported that Redknapp would like a "top-level job in England." So if a Premier League job comes open this season, don't be surprised if Redknapp takes it.

Diego Maradona

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Most recent club: Al-Wasl

Diego Maradona, the legendary Argentine striker who led his country to the World Cup title in 1986, was sacked by United Arab Emirates club Al-Wasl in July. Before working in the Middle East, Maradona managed Argentina in the 2010 World Cup.

Maradona was (rather improbably) linked with the Blackburn Rovers job last month (via Daily Mirror). He obviously did not get the job.

What's next? Who knows? Does anyone ever know with Diego?

Rafa Benitez

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Most recent club: Inter Milan

Rafael Benitez managed Liverpool to the Champions League title in 2005 before clashing with the club and eventually being dismissed in 2010. His next job was at Inter Milan, where he lasted about half a season.

Since then, he hasn't been up to much, though he was linked to AC Milan recently (Goal.com).

What's next? It's been almost two years since Inter sacked Benitez. If a job doesn't come along soon, we might need to start wondering whether he'll be hired for another big club again.

Bert van Marwijk

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Most recent job: Netherlands

Bert van Marwijk's Dutch team melted down at Euro 2012 as the whole continent watched. Not surprisingly, he quit shortly after the tournament (via BBC Sport).

Van Marwijk's stock is low now, but his resume includes stops at Borussia Dortmund and Feyenoord (twice).

What's next? Van Marwijk was linked with Wolfsburg recently (via ESPN FC), and a return to the club game in either Holland or Germany seems likely.

 

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