Klopp Dismisses Real Madrid Links, Hints At Future Return To Coaching

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has rubbished “nonsense” speculation linking him with a return to club management at Real Madrid this summer.

The 58-year-old, who departed Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season, had been rumoured as a potential successor to Álvaro Arbeloa. Klopp has not coached since leaving Liverpool, instead taking on a role as head of global football with Red Bull.

Speaking at a Magenta TV World Cup team presentation in Munich, the German emphatically denied any contact with the Spanish giants, stating: “If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now. 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.”

While dismissing immediate prospects, Klopp did leave the door open for a future return to the dugout. “Right now I’m not thinking about that, luckily there’s no reason to,” he explained. “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.”

Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool began in October 2015, and he was initially contracted until 2026. However, he made a shock announcement in January 2024 that he would step down at the close of the 2023-24 campaign, citing a lack of energy.

His illustrious time on Merseyside saw him guide Liverpool to the Champions League trophy in 2019, followed by their first league title in 30 years during the 2019-20 season. He also secured the FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Despite hinting at a potential future in coaching, Klopp reiterated his firm stance from two years ago that he would never manage another Premier League club. “What I know definitely is that I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100%. That’s not possible,” he added.

Prior to his spell at Liverpool, Klopp enjoyed successful stints in Germany with Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, where he won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.