Who will take over Zidane's pride in Real Madrid?

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Zinedine Zidane's sudden resignation as the head coach of Real Madrid has sparked heated discussions among football fans and buffs on his legendary history and left an intriguing question: Who will fill his shoes now?

Whoever replacing Zidane is apparently facing a huge task of maintaining the pride of the team, which has scored four Champions League wins in five seasons, and safeguarding its time-honored exclusive tradition, especially the club's currently unique culture led by President Florentino Pérez.

Here are the top three contenders for the challenging job:

Mauricio Pochettino applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City in London, England. /VCG Photo

There has been a buzz that Mauricio Pochettino from Tottenham Hotspur could be a choice for Real Madrid because of his outstanding work in pushing the north Londoners to a higher level. Under his well-measured and calculated coaching, the 46-year-old Argentine former footballer is especially good at turning young talents into superstars.

Arsene Wenger attends a World Cup activity in France. /VCG Photo

Arsene Wenger is another competitive contender whose 22-year-long coaching experience in Arsenal is his main asset. "Real Madrid, I think I turned them down two or three times. They are one of the teams I loved as a kid but I felt it was a very sensitive period for Arsenal," said the 68-year-old Frenchman.

Guti attends a Real Madrid summer camp in Shanghai. /VCG Photo

A former Real Madrid player Like Zidane, Guti is also a competent contender for the coach title. He worked as an assistant for several years and later stood out as a player known for his intense football techniques.

It's anyone's game at the moment, until Real Madrid reveals their card.