Legendary football coach Jurgen Klopp has revealed his immediate reaction upon learning that Real Madrid had fired Xabi Alonso just seven months into the role. The 44-year-old's exit was confirmed less than 24 hours after Los Blancos were beaten by rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Alonso arrived from Bayer Leverkusen with high expectations. Having won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and DFL-Supercup during his time in Germany, the Spaniard had established himself as one of the best young coaches on the planet. Not only that, but his time spent as a player in Madrid between 2009 and 2014 appeared to make him a perfect fit.
However, after 19 La Liga games, sitting four points off league leaders Barca, Real Madrid felt now was the right time to cut ties with Alonso. More than just the results alone, it's also felt that he may have lost the backing of some key members in the dressing room.
Klopp Claims 'Something Isn’t Quite Right' As Alonso Leaves Madrid
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso
Not long after news broke, former Liverpool boss Klopp offered his thoughts on the sacking. The German was working as a pundit on Servus TV On, as he explained why he felt the firing suggests 'something isn't right' at Real Madrid. When asked if his phone had been ringing ever since, he replied: “It actually has - though not from Madrid. But yes, there were definitely a few people who felt they had to contact me directly about it.
“First of all, I think it’s another sign that something isn’t quite right there at the moment. If Xabi Alonso, who over the last two years in Leverkusen has shown what an outstanding coaching talent he is - and I think at his age and with the number of jobs he’s had, you can say that - is then forced to leave Madrid just six months later, it shows a few things. On the one hand, it shows that nowadays there’s no time anymore. On the other, the expectations at Real Madrid are obviously enormous.
“To make a decision like that in the heat of the moment, after losing a cup final to Barcelona yesterday, says a lot. I think we’d already been hearing rumours for a while."
Having been linked with the job, Klopp played down the idea that he was potentially interested in taking over, noting: "And now - I don’t know if that’s where your question was going - but this has absolutely nothing to do with me, and it didn’t trigger anything for me either, which would probably have been the follow-up question.
“I was surprised, that’s true - genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis.”
Klopp's quotes were widely circulated online, causing a stir on Reddit with over 400 comments as fans debated his take on Real Madrid's call to sack Alonso, as well as whether or not he would ever be open to taking the job.
Klopp Appears Unkeen on Madrid Job
jurgen klopp
As alluded to before, earlier in the season, Klopp had been tipped in some quarters as one of the favourites to come in at Real Madrid should things under Alonso go pear-shaped. Judging by the German's comments, however, it seems as though he might not view the Bernabeu as the most stable environment right now.
It also remains unclear if the 58-year-old would be open to returning to any job in football management at this moment in time, having left Liverpool in 2024 due to fatigue.
For now, Alvaro Arbeloa – who also has a connection to Liverpool, having played for the English giants from 2007 to 2009 – has been handed the reins at Real Madrid. The Spaniard had been in charge of Real Madrid Castilla since May 2025, having replaced striker Raul Gonzalez, and will now immediately step up to first-team duties after Alonso's departure.