We kick things off with the current national manager and end with you-know-who...
1. Vicente del Bosque (1987-90)
The Spanish national team manager flies the flag for Castilla coaches, having been given the chance to climb the Real Madrid ladder and succeeding in the top job. After 14 years playing for the club’s first team, holding responsibility in the youth ranks molded his image as a safe pair of hands. Following stints as a caretaker manager in 1994 and 1996, he was appointed permanently at the turn of the millennium and it proved a masterstroke, with the newly-selected coach going on to win two league titles and two Champions League trophies.
2. Rafa Benitez (1993-95)
The Spaniard masterminded a sixth-place finish in the second tier
The man who took over Madrid this summer also spent time coaching Castilla, and was visibly moved by the opportunity to return to the Bernabeu this summer in the capacity of first-team manager. After winning titles with the Juvenil B and Real Madrid’s U19 setup, Benitez gained further experience managing Castilla. With young would-be Real Madrid legends Raul and Guti at his disposal, the Spaniard masterminded a sixth-place finish in the second tier, providing the basis for nine future managerial positions elsewhere before returning to the capital.
3. Julen Lopetegui (2008-09)
He may have only come into the public eye recently thanks to his work with Portuguese giants Porto, but the 49-year-old has his roots grounded firmly in Madrid. Lopetegui was unable to take any silverware to Estadio do Dragao in his first season last year, but he did impress by taking Porto to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Between his stints with Castilla and Porto, the Spaniard was given the opportunity to coach his country at under-19, under-20 and under-21 level, winning the U19 European Championship in 2012 and the U21 European Championship with La Rojita the following year. His reputation is growing – could he be a potential Real Madrid gaffer in the future?
4. Zinedine Zidane (2014-16)
And then there's Zizou of course. You can't have failed to notice that the former Galactico has just been named as the new boss of Real Madrid. How will he fare? The Blancos' Guardiola? Or just another temporary fill-in?
More on ZZ's Real Madrid appointment
- QUIZ How well do you know Zizou's career?
- Zinedine Zidane the Manager: How Zizou positioned himself to lead Real Madrid
- 5 reasons why Rafa Benitez couldn’t cut it at Real Madrid
- 14 majestic examples of Zidane skill
