'A few people contacted me' Ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp responds to Real Madrid manager talk

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 4: Jurgen Klopp attends the Ligue 1 McDonald's football match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Paris FC at Parc des Princes stadium on January 4, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images).

Jurgen Klopp is taking a break from coaching and management since leaving Liverpool at the end of last season.

The German is currently Head of Global Soccer for the Red Bull Group, which looks after a stable of clubs including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.

Following Xabi Alonso's departure from Real Madrid earlier this week, Klopp was asked whether he had been approached to fill the vacancy.

Jurgen Klopp on Real Madrid job rumours

Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid by mutual agreement, according to the club (Image credit: Getty Images)

Shortly after the announcement of Alonso's exit, Real Madrid confirmed 'B' team head coach and former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa would be taking the reins, presumably on an interim basis until the end of the season.

"Yes, there were definitely a few people who felt they had to contact me directly about [the Real Madrid job]," Klopp said in an interview with ServusTV On.

Klopp is taking a coaching sabbatical (Image credit: Getty Images)

“First of all, I think it’s another sign that something isn’t quite right there at the moment," Klopp added. "This has absolutely nothing to do with me, and it didn’t trigger anything for me either.

"I was surprised, that’s true, genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis.”

The ex-Liverpool boss made clear he had not been contacted by those representing the LaLiga club, but instead had spoken to people external to Real Madrid about the rumours.

Klopp appears to have gone one step further and shut down any possibility of him taking the Real Madrid job in future by sending a strong message to the Bernabeu hierarchy.

“If Xabi Alonso, who over the last two years in Leverkusen has shown what an outstanding coaching talent he is – 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.

Alonso lasted just over six months in the Santiago Bernabeu hotseat (Image credit: Getty Images)

“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."

Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 by arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup Final last weekend, which signalled the end of Alonso's tenure.