Grading the Biggest Manager Decisions From 6 of Europe's Top Clubs

Some of the biggest clubs across Europe are facing major decisions about their managers, with choices already being made even before the domestic season ends.

Will José Mourinho's return to Real Madrid be a successful one? Did Liverpool make a mistake not pursuing Xabi Alonso and allowing Chelsea to swoop in?

For that, we asked Calum Rogers and Leo Collis to grade the choices made.

Disagree with our panel? Submit your thoughts now in the comments section of the app.

Chelsea Hire Xabi Alonso

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After lasting less than eight months in charge of Real Madrid at the start of this season, Xabi Alonso didn't immediately spring to mind when assessing Chelsea's next potential manager.

That wasn't because of doubts over his suitability for this role—this is still a man who led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning season and won the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and UEFA Champions League during a storied playing career.

Alonso never factored into the initial consideration simply because it seemed unfathomable that he would be interested in joining another club that seems to view managers as interchangeable. That Chelsea have convinced him of their ambitions, and potentially afforded him extra power by naming him as manager rather than head coach, is a significant statement of intent.

After a galaxy-brained opening to BlueCo's tenure in west London since its ownership began in 2022, perhaps the club's leadership has finally accepted that they aren't the smartest guys in the room.

Prior to the Alonso hire, co-owner Behdad Eghbali told a sports conference in Los Angeles that Chelsea needed to "add more ready-made players at this part of the project," which would be a departure from their focus on youngsters perceived as undervalued who could turn a profit.

That model has chewed up five permanent managers, all of whom struggled to make sense of a bloated and inexperienced squad that lacked star-level players.

Alonso is an exciting hire on his own, but attracting a manager of his stature would surely have required assurance of significant investment to add immediate difference-makers to the squad, and that could be a far more significant turning point for Chelsea.

Grade: A

- Calum Rogers

Liverpool Retain Arne Slot

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Heading into the final matchday of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, Liverpool has all but sealed qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League.

In years past, that would have been considered a decent finish for the Reds. However, after a title-winning season in 2024-25 and the arrival of a host of new, expensive signings last summer, the campaign has been hugely disappointing for the Merseysiders, likely resulting in a fifth-place league finish and no silverware.

While a number of factors have contributed to the lackluster title defense—including the death of Diogo Jota, difficulties bedding in new talent, Mohamed Salah's drop-off in form and a raft of unfortunate injuries—fingers have been pointed at head coach Arne Slot, who has struggled to handle the challenges thrown his way.

The Dutchman might have steered the Reds to title glory in his first season with the club, but that goodwill is fading fast, with the fans turning on the coach in his second year in charge. 

The 47-year-old has seemingly abandoned the high-intensity pressing approach that brought such success in his debut campaign and in previous years under Jürgen Klopp—a factor Salah appeared to reference in a recent social media post about the team's intensity.

When injuries have cropped up, Slot has played top stars out of position instead of relying on talent from the academy, leading to an unbalanced team that has lacked in key areas. Meanwhile, set-pieces—both attacking and defending them—have been dreadful, and his teams have a habit of starting slow or switching off late, which has led to far too many dropped points. 

But the Reds' hierarchy will seemingly put their trust in the Dutchman, with a summer transfer window supposedly bringing the squad closer in alignment with Slot's big vision. At present, though, it's tough to understand quite what he wants this team to be.

It's a bold strategy, although Arsenal's first top-flight title in 22 years proves the merits of persisting with a manager in the face of disappointing league finishes. 

The biggest concern might be whether Slot has the personality to get the fans back on his side. Even after tough seasons or poor results, Klopp knew how to keep supporters engaged and to cultivate trust. Slot's more muted approach and lack of connection with the crowd make it a lot easier for them to boo him than to pledge undying loyalty.

Unless something remarkable happens, he'll be in the Anfield dugout next season. However, he might not be afforded a lot of patience if results continue to disappoint and there are no signs that his methods are being communicated effectively with the squad. 

Grade: D

- Leo Collis

Pep Guardiola Leaves Manchester City and Will Be Replaced by Enzo Maresca

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been tabbed to replace Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager.

The biggest criticism Maresca struggled to shake at Chelsea was that his team was too boring, and a lack of excitement is perhaps now the biggest fault you can level at City's decision to hire him.

The positives are obvious. Maresca was Guardiola's assistant for the 2022/23 treble-winning season and has already worked with several players at the club. As a Guardiola disciple, he will likely require minimal squad overhaul at a time when City will already be losing stalwarts Bernardo Silva and John Stones.

And even during a difficult tenure at Chelsea, the fourth-place finish Maresca secured last season was the best league performance of the BlueCo era, and the club has dropped from fifth to eighth since his departure in January this season.

However, there is a nagging feeling City have missed a chance to try something bolder. Any successor to Guardiola would likely face significant challenges—that's simply the reality of attempting to replace the greatest manager of the modern era—but such speedbumps may be easier to stomach if the team was chasing a more significant overhaul.

Instead, City have opted to continue down a similar path to the one that has seen them miss out on two successive league titles.

Maresca is clearly a fine coach, and it is worth underlining that he was a key figure on the staff that won Guardiola's only Champions League trophy in Manchester, but it could be difficult for him to shake the fragility that has crept into the team during the last two years if the plan is to largely maintain the status quo.

The optics of Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth dismantling City in a 1-1 draw that confirmed Arsenal's title victory were not helpful. Iraola is out of contract at the end of the season, and while such a drastic overhaul in the team's playing style would have brought its own concerns, that is beginning to feel like a necessary step.

Maresca should keep City competitive, and he will have a good chance to level up alongside a far stronger squad and smarter recruitment than he had at Chelsea. Overall, though, it just feels a little unadventurous.

Grade: C+

- Calum Rogers

Michael Carrick Appointed Permanently by Manchester United

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Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, 11 men have managed at least one game in the Manchester United dugout. 

The results achieved among that carousel of coaches have been mixed. Seven trophies have arrived in that time, although two were the Community Shield, and none have been a Premier League or Champions League title. For a club of United's stature, that's simply unacceptable. 

Although Michael Carrick is still relatively green in managerial terms, he has brought relative success to the club. In his second stint leading the Red Devils, the 44-year-old has taken United to third in the English top flight, ensured they will return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 tournament, and has generally lifted the mood among the fanbase.

It's difficult to overstate just how impressive that is. He's delivered 11 wins in 16 games, made the club more potent in the final third, and has shored things up at the back, despite a defensive injury crisis. 

He's even brought the best out of young star Kobbie Mainoo, convincing the academy product to sign a new contract after he was inching towards an exit under Ruben Amorim. 

It's expected that Carrick's interim appointment will be made permanent, and that seems like the smart choice. More experienced managers simply haven't been up to the club's high standards, and the former Red Devils midfielder has the crucial "United DNA" that is apparently essential.

There is a note of caution, though. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was another ex-player and inexperienced coach who had a similar impact in the Old Trafford dugout. While he proved a stabilizing figure, he was tactically limited and couldn't deliver the trophies the players and the fans craved. It could be a similar tale for Carrick, too. 

Right now, United will be happy with a steady hand at the wheel, and hiring someone who has demonstrated they can deliver results for the club is perhaps better than shelling out on another huge contract for a manager who might not make the grade. 

This would allow Carrick to get a pre-season under his belt, sign a couple of players, fully implement his philosophy, and show what he can do on the European stage. At the end of the season, United can revisit the situation and decide whether the progress is in keeping with the club's expected timeline, or cut bait and try to find a manager with a knack for securing trophies. 

Grade: B+

- Leo Collis

Antonio Conte Leaves Napoli

While nothing has been officially confirmed, typically reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that Antonio Conte will be leaving Napoli when the curtain falls on the 2025-26 Serie A season. 

Conte delivered Napoli's fourth-ever league title in his first year with the club, edging Inter Milan by just a single point. However, the Nerazzurri have come roaring back this term, claiming the Scudetto at a canter and leaving the Partenopei as likely distant runners-up. 

The Italian's impending exit continues a similar pattern: The 56-year-old has only stayed in a club's dugout for longer than two years once, with Juventus from 2011 to 2014.

That's perhaps not surprising, with Conte a notoriously difficult coach to get along with despite often delivering silverware. 

He has been openly critical of the club's lack of squad investment this season, despite Kevin De Bruyne arriving in the summer of 2025 and quickly becoming one of the club's top earners. He's also had a very public falling out with Romelu Lukaku. 

That friction and Conte's exacting nature have led to results taking a hit, with Napoli losing twice as many games as they did last season. They also crashed out of the Champions League in the League Phase, finishing 30th out of a possible 36 teams with just two wins. 

All in all, it looks best for all parties to take a clean break. Conte's flash-in-the-pan managerial approach doesn't work for the long haul, so the club should be glad for the success he brought while not holding on to him tighter than necessary. 

With the Italy national team job likely up for grabs, Conte could return to the Azzurri setup. His stint from 2014 to 2016 brought a European Cup quarterfinal, and given Italy's recent struggles, a known quantity would be a wise appointment to deliver at least short-term success that raises spirits.

If the Partenopei can agree on a mutual termination, it seems like a win-win for all parties, allowing the club to save some much-needed cash and enter a new era under a manager with longevity in mind.  

Grade: A

Real Madrid Hire José Mourinho

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According to ESPN's Bruno Andrade and Alex Kirkland, José Mourinho has agreed a two-year contract to return to Real Madrid.

The best-case scenario for this move is that Mourinho is able to stamp out the fires raging within Real Madrid's squad. 

The Athletic's Mario Cortegana and Guillermo Rai reported in January after Xabi Alonso's departure that player power was a significant factor in the manager's exit, with Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde reportedly "unconvinced" by their manager.

What has followed has descended into farce. Locker room squabbles have played out in public, and the team's performance has nosedived. Real were four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona at the time Alonso left; they are now 11 points back with one game remaining. 

Mourinho's task will be to unite what is clearly a divided dressing room. What feels more likely, though, is that rather than stamp out the fires, Mourinho acts more like a powder keg that sends things spiraling further out of control.

Mourinho has yet to show his confrontational style can work for the majority of modern-day players. He hasn't won a league title since 2015, and arguably hasn't been at the cutting edge of the sport in over a decade. He is overseeing an unbeaten league campaign with Benfica, but it's an unbeaten season that still sees the team sitting third in what is essentially a three-horse race. 

It's also difficult to look past Mourinho's potential relationship with Vinícius. After the Brazilian accused Gianluca Prestianni of racism in a Champions League game against Mourinho's Benfica earlier this season, Mourinho told the media, "A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always." 

Even if you're willing to ignore the wider criticism his comments generated and the potential anger of others within Real Madrid's dressing room, the likely discomfort between a new manager and one of his star players is a worrying layer to an already baffling decision.

Grade: F

- Calum Rogers