Top five clubs Leonardo Jardim can manage next

Known for developing young players the Portuguese tactician is without a job after having left Monaco earlier this season.

Appointed back in 2014, Leonardo Jardim had a tough job at AS Monaco but went on to bring unprecedented success at the club. The highlight being their domestic triumph in 2017, with the last title coming 17 years prior. The gaffer also succeeded in taking Monaco to the semifinals stage of the UEFA Champions League in the 2016-2017 season as well.

The above feats are particularly impressive given the fact that Jardim kept losing his best players in every transfer window due to management's skewed and short-sighted transfer policy. Players like Anthony Martial, Radamel Falcao, Yannick Carrasco and many others were sold for large sums. Perhaps the offloading of Kylian Mbappe, now at PSG, was the last straw.

The current debacle of AS Monaco seemed to be inevitable and long time coming. With only seven points out of 11 games, the club is languishing at the 19th spot with only one victory. In such a scenario, Jardim's exit from the club did not come as a surprise.

The 44-year-old is now in search of a new job and the list of the clubs that can do well with signing him is an interesting one. Therefore, we take a look at the five possible clubs that Leonardo Jardim can manage.

Manchester United 

Owing to a rocky start in the Premier League, the Red Devil's boss Jose Mourinho is under tremendous pressure. The Portuguese needs to turn the fortunes upside down or else he could be looking at an early exit. The future looks uncertain for the United gaffer, but for now he has the backing of the board and fans.

In a scenario where Mourinho is sacked, the favourite to replace him at the helm according to various reports and rumours seems to be the former Real Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane. Therefore, Old Trafford could be a less likely destination for Leonardo Jardim. However, if infact he lands this coveted job, it would be a boon for the young roster at Manchester United due to the success Jardim has had developing young players in the past. 

Newcastle United

The Magpies are one of the two unfortunate teams in the Premier League that are yet to register a single victory. In a horrid start to their campaign, Newcastle have lost seven out of the ten games played. As a result, their manager Rafael Benitez is under immense scrutiny. The Spaniard could be the first managerial casualty of the season if this run continues.

In that case, Jardim can be an ideal replacement. His ability to bring the best out of young players is something the Magpies desperately need. One of the reasons Benitez has struggled to lift the club to a better performance is due to the lack of support from the board.

He has not been able to bring players in and improve the squad due to a lack of funds. Jardim has worked under similar circumstances at Monaco and therefore can be the perfect remedy to Newcastle's ailments.

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Valencia CF

The manager of the club, Marcelino, was appointed back in 2017 and had a positive first season in-charge. The club finished fourth in La Liga and secured UCL qualification. The objective this term was to build on that, however, with a single victory in eleven fixtures, the gaffer looks to have failed to do so. Los Murcielagos lie on the 14th spot in the standings as a result of a poor start.

The pressure is immense on the 53-year-old tactician to turn the tide and a tough UCL group has only added to his troubles. In a scenario where Marcelino is relieved of his duties, Leonardo Jardim can be an excellent replacement. 

Valencia has an impressive squad with attacking players like Kevin Gameiro, Denis Cheryshev and Gonzalo Guedes among others. Jardim would be a perfect fit to unlock the potential that the squad has as these are the sort of players that the Portuguese love to work with, pacy and aggressive. Mestalla is of the ideal destinations for the former Monaco boss.

Bayern Munich 

Two points behind rivals and table toppers Borussia Dortmund is not a common sight for the fans of Bayern Munich. The present scenario is very far from the higher standard that The Bavarians have set for themselves. With a new manager at the helm in Niko Kovac, things haven't turned out in their favour. The 47-year-old manager is desperate for good results or else he could be looking at an early exit to his career at Bayern. 

If that were to happen, the board could be eyeing Leonardo Jardim as a possible replacement. With his ability to set-up an attacking unit that plays fast-paced aggressive football, the Portuguese is well-suited to bring back winning ways at the Allianz Arena. Working with one of the best squads in Europe can further help Jardim in elevating his status on the continental front as well.

AC Milan

In an attempt to put an end to the domination of their rivals, Juventus FC, in the Serie A, AC Milan have spent hefty and added plenty to their squad. However, the results are not what the fans or the management had hoped for.

Gennaro Gattuso's appointment has had a lukewarm effect at best. The Rossoneri is still far from the team that they were back in their glory days. Milan find themselves on the 4th spot in the standings, 13 points adrift already from the leaders.

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Large sections of fans have been raising their concerns and are demanding a shuffle on the managerial front. Leonardo Jardim is the favourite to take the mantle from Gattuso in that scenario. A change of approach and philosophy is perhaps what is needed at San Siro. As the manager of AC Milan, Jardim will have access to funds that he never had back at Monaco. The Portuguese can build a squad to his preference and possibly do wonders with it. Fans at the club are desperate to taste success once again and Jardim can be the key in achieving that.