Next PSG Manager: Four potential candidates should Man Utd linked Mauricio Pochettino exit Paris

Mauricio Pochettino’s future at PSG is shrouded in doubt following the club’s Champions League capitulation against Real Madrid.

The early exit from Europe’s top club competition only fuels rumours that PSG and Pochettino will part ways in the summer. 

It will probably come as a relief for the latter who has never appeared completely comfortable in France’s capital, a return to the Premier League seems the most likely step, with Pochettino (evens, favourite) currently engulfed in a two-horse race for the Man Utd job with Ajax’s Erik ten Hag (15/8). Although, he’s also been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Should, as expected, Pochettino say au revoir to Paris, the subsequent job opening at the Parc des Princes will obviously attract huge attention from some of the best bosses in the business.

PSG haven’t exactly had problems in luring over star managers in the past, with Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel, and Unai Emery each holding the job throughout the course of the last decade.

Below we look at four managers who could take charge of PSG in the near future…

The Outstanding Candidate: Zinedine Zidane

One criticism that is often fired in the direction of PSG players is their mental strength and lack of character in pivotal moments: The abrupt manner in which they collapsed against Real Madrid was alarming.

One manager who has thrived in the management of egos is Zinedine Zidane, who memorably led Real Madrid’s star-studded group of elite players to three straight Champions League triumphs - the trophy PSG desires above all else - plus two La Liga titles and successes in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Zidane isn’t wedded to a philosophy or ideology and often receives unjust criticism when it comes to the tactical and technical aspects of management. Yet he’s a sophisticated, adroit and respected leader who knows how to tune into the mindset of superstars and in turn deliver success. A skillset that appears perfect for managing PSG.

One, potentially huge, stumbling block is the job opening at the helm of the France national team in December when Didier Deschamps’ contract expires after the 2022 World Cup. The reason Zidane has yet to return to management since leaving Real Madrid last May is because he’s widely believed to be waiting it out for the hot-seat at Les Bleus.

The Former Boss: Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti may not be a hugely popular figure in Paris right now having just orchestrated a stunning comeback to dump his former employers out of the Champions League. However, he’s hugely respected.

It may come as a surprise to learn that the Italian has come under pressure at certain points this season, that’s despite leading Los Blancos to top spot in La Liga. He now has an outside sniff of a double as he bids to lift the famous Champions League trophy for a record fourth time.

Predicting what direction Real Madrid will take in the summer is difficult, they have a history of replacing managers after winning league titles and cups. Should Ancelotti suddenly find himself in the Job Centre, he could suddenly become a serious option for PSG.

It's a job he's held before of course. Ancelotti was the club’s first blockbuster managerial appointment under Qatar Sports Investments. He spent 18 months at the helm, winning 49 of his 77 matches and won the club their first league title since 1994: which set the ball rolling for a decade of domestic dominance.

Ancelotti left PSG for Real Madrid, but there could be a feeling of unfinished business in Paris, providing he can patch up his relationship with the club’s owners which became strained in the period leading up to his departure.

The Hot Shot: Christophe Galtier

Christophe Galtier has been the scourge of PSG in recent times. 

Last season he incredibly led Lille to the Ligue 1 title at the expense of Pochettino’s Parisians, whom he beat in Paris the run-in. 

Now in charge of Nice, he came away from the capital with a point in December, booted them out of the French Cup in January, then last week oversaw a superb 1-0 win in the return league fixture.

If you can’t beat him…buy him?

Galtier, who previously enjoyed success at St Etienne, has transformed into one of France’s great managers whose title win at Lille was nothing short of exceptional. 

Yet he remarkably remains underrated and is rarely mentioned as a contender when top jobs open up. It’s surely only a matter of time until an elite club wakes up and attempts to appoint him - he can currently be backed at 40/1 for the Man Utd job, odds that should be far, far shorter.

Like Zidane, there’s every chance Galtier could also be considered as a potential option to succeed Didier Deschamps at the helm of the French national team.

The Italian Job: Luciano Spalletti

Over in Italy, fans are being treated to a proper title race. Just three points separate the top-three teams - Milan, Inter and Napoli - with an improving Juventus still in the mix too.

One manager who is desperate to get his mitts on the Scudetto is Luciano Spalletti, with the trophy so far eluding him in his managerial career; he’s previously finished runner-up on four occasions with Roma. 

Spalletti, who replaced Gennaro Gattuso in the summer, has transformed the Naples club into title challengers and as recently as last week topped the Serie A table. Should he end the season with the title on his CV, his name could well crop up in conversations for the PSG job. 

The Italian is an experienced manager known for his attack-minded football, he's managed over 500 Serie A games and twice been crowned the league’s Coach of the Year. He previously led Roma to back-to-back triumphs in the Coppa Italia, won the Russian Premier League and cups at Zenit, and has overseen the likes of Inter Milan, Emploi, and Udinese.

Unlikely to be PSG’s first pick, but definitely one to keep an eye on over the next few months.