Verdict: Should Mauricio Pochettino stay at Tottenham or join Real Madrid?
Mauricio Pochettino is the current favourite to replace Julen Lopetegui as Real Madrid manager.
The former Spain boss was given the boot on Monday evening, with an El Clasico thrashing in Barcelona the final straw for Los Blancos' board after a below-par start to the season.
With the search for his successor now under way, Castilla manager Santiago Solari is overseeing the first team on a temporary basis, although he is a front-runner to get the post permanently.
The market is moving swiftly, but the Tottenham boss is 5/4 to become the Spanish giants' next permanent manager (as of 1645 GMT, October 30).
Should he be put in a position to pursue the opportunity, it is an incredibly tough decision for him to mull over.
Well Poch, if you are reading, we have done the hard work for you.
George Pitts weighs up the pros and cons of the Argentinian taking the vacant post.
Next Real Madrid manager odds
Mauricio Pochettino - 5/4 | Santiago Solari - 3/1 | Roberto Martinez - 4/1 | Antonio Conte - 9/2
Pros
The biggest job he could get?
Due to his allegiances to Catalan outfit Espanyol, Pochettino has repeatedly insisted that he would never manage Barcelona.
The former centre-back finished his career at Espanyol in 2006 before being handed their top job in 2009, which he would occupy for a further three years. With his loyalty ruling out Barcelona, that leaves the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Juventus on the list of biggest possible jobs in club football, at this moment in time.
Money to spend
It is no secret that the ever-increasing costs of Spurs' new stadium has affected Pochettino's transfer budget.
The club, who also operate a tight wage budget under Daniel Levy, were the only Premier League team not to make a signing in the summer, despite many of their squad returning for the new season still fatigued after the World Cup.
At Real Madrid, meanwhile, Pochettino could have free reign over who comes in next summer, with the club able to finance huge deals, and they are still yet to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.
World-class step up
With all all due respect to Tottenham, they are now a huge club in the Premier League and world football, with some great players, but Pochettino would go into a Madrid squad full of quality in every position.
They just need man-management and a true leader, boxes which Pochettino appears to tick, and language will be no problem initially seeing as he is Argentinian.
Cons
Trigger-happy Real
Go on a bad run of results and the white handkerchiefs soon come out with Real Madrid fans calling for your head.
They have had seven different managers in the last decade, four of them coming in the time Pochettino has been at Tottenham.
While he will have a talented squad at his disposal, he will also have some rebuilding to do and these things take time.
A club of Real Madrid's size demands success, though, and failure to make an impression with players, fans or the club's board could soon see him out of a job.
Building something at Spurs
The 46-year-old is into his fifth season with the north Londoners and, while he is yet to win a trophy, they have made considerable strides, finishing in the top four for three years in succession.
He has nurtured young players and playing excellent football, so it would be a shame to not to see him complete the job.
New era, new White Hart Lane
It looks like @SpursOfficial's new stadium is coming along nicely 😍
— Dugout (@Dugout) October 9, 2018
We can't wait for them to start playing here 💪 pic.twitter.com/WxNehk41ZR
He has clearly been frustrated by the delay in getting moved into their brand new stadium, but it is out of the club's control and will be well worth the wait once it opens.
The new ground will hold over 62,000 fans and, while it may take some adapting to after playing at Wembley, Pochettino would surely like to be the man leading the club to success in their new world-class facility as they look to match their off-field ambitions on the pitch.
More suited to Manchester, than Madrid?
With Jose Mourinho's days seemingly numbered at the club, recent results probably only prolonging the inevitable, the Old Trafford hot-seat could ultimately be a little more attractive to Pochettino.
A world-class set-up, huge budgets, playing in arguably the world's best and most competitive football league, with a little more time and patience than he would get at Real Madrid - you can see why he may be inclined to listen, should Ed Woodward make a call.
He is 10/1 with Sky Bet to be their next manager, something you could well envisage should the right offer be made.
Verdict: Stay put. Don't do it, Mauricio
The Real Madrid job is a poisoned chalice, with every manager believing they can turn things around but they get given the boot before their feet are under the table.
The 46-year-old has put together a talented Spurs team and it would be a shame to see him leave before they win silverware. It is not worth sacrificing a long-term work in progress, where you are exceeding expectations and setting new benchmarks, for a club whose high standards can never be met.
He should carry on what he is doing in north London, taking the club on an upward trajectory, and other top - more stable - clubs will come calling should he want to take his ambitions elsewhere.
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Odds correct as of 1630 GMT on 30/10/18
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