24th March 2026
March 24 – Head of Global Football at Red Bull, Jurgen Klopp, has dismissed speculation linking him with a return to management at Real Madrid this summer, describing the reports as ‘nonsense’.
Klopp, who voluntarily stepped down as manager of English Premier League side Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season, has not returned to the dugout since and is currently head Red Bull’s multi-club model.
His name has continued to circulate whenever a high-profile vacancy is mentioned – Madrid included – but the German says there has been no contact.
“If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now,” Klopp said in Munich. “But that’s all nonsense. They haven’t called even once, not once. My agent is there, you can ask him. They haven’t called him either.
“Right now I’m not thinking about that, luckily there’s no reason to. For my age I’m quite advanced in life, but as a coach I’m not completely finished. I haven’t reached retirement age.
“Who knows what will happen in the coming years? But there’s nothing planned.” Despite the speculation that inevitably follows him, Klopp has made one thing clear about his own future in England.
“What I know definitely is that I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100%. That’s not possible.”
Klopp left Liverpool after a nine-year spell that reshaped the club’s modern era, delivering the Champions League in 2019 and ending a 30-year wait for a league title the following season.
At Anfield, attention has since shifted to his successor, Arne Slot. The Dutchman arrived and hit the ceiling immediately, winning the Premier League at the first time of asking. Those high expectations have translated into a challenging second campaign, with Liverpool’s title defence falling far short of where many expected the club to be – especially with the club’s £400m transfer splurge in the summer.
Unless results turn quickly – particularly in Europe where Liverpool will meet holders Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter finals next month – questions around the direction of the team are expected to intensify heading into the summer.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is reportedly front of the queue for the role if Slot is sacked. The Spaniard departed his role at Real Madrid in January after less than eight months in charge – a decision that has since aged badly with Los Blancos who sit four points behind FC Barcelona in LaLiga with nine games left to play.
With Klopp ruling out Madrid and an opening at his former club becoming available – it is easy to picture what Liverpool fans are hoping to happen. For now, Klopp remains out of the coaching spotlight – even if the rumour mill hasn’t quite caught up.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [moc.l1774350376labto1774350376ofdlr1774350376owedi1774350376sni@g1774350376niwe.1774350376yrrah1774350376](javascript:;)