Real Madrid’s Managerial Search: Jurgen Klopp Linked but Uninterested

Real Madrid dismissed Xabi Alonso in January 2024, leaving the head-coach role vacant. Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed interim manager, with a permanent appointment expected in the summer. The vacancy follows a Champions League exit and a La Liga title race now led by Barcelona.

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Under Arbeloa, Real Madrid failed to advance past the Champions League group stage and lost the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona. The league standing slipped, leaving the title race in Barcelona’s control and increasing pressure for a new manager.

Jurgen Klopp won't join Real Madrid - but there is one job that could see him return to coaching

Media list several names: José Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino, Didier Deschamps, Massimiliano Allegri and former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp. AS confirms Mourinho as a leading candidate but notes many names have not been formally discussed and that intermediaries sometimes use Real Madrid’s brand to promote other clients.

Sports Illustrated

AS reports Jürgen Klopp has ruled out the Real Madrid role, preferring to await the Germany national-team vacancy held by Julian Nagelsmann. Former Real Madrid pundit Jorge Valdano, speaking on Movistar Plus+, dismissed both Mourinho and Klopp as realistic options, stressing the need for a manager who can deliver immediate results.

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Valdano called Mourinho’s tenure a “closed chapter,” arguing a return would not benefit the club. He also said Klopp would need a full season to rebuild a squad, incompatible with Real Madrid’s demand for instant success, and suggested Deschamps or Pochettino as more suitable candidates.

Sports Illustrated

While AS and Valdano dismiss Klopp as a viable option, other outlets cite journalist Josep Pedrerol and former midfielder Toni Kroos saying Klopp would welcome the role and is viewed as the “ideal manager” for the project. No official confirmation from Real Madrid or Klopp has been released, leaving the appointment uncertain.

Klopp ‘will be the next Real Madrid coach’ as Kroos link ‘tips scales’ away from Mourinho

• "I hope Flo Wirtz will have a fantastic, fantastic World Cup. I think he has everything you need to be a standout player. I don't want to put any pressure on the boy. I really think he showed already how good he can be in a difficult season." — Jürgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager

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• "Mourinho is a closed chapter at the club and I don't think he'll be coming back." — Jorge Valdano, former Real Madrid pundit

Sports Illustrated

• "Klopp needs a year to build a team, and I find it hard to believe that at a club like Real Madrid he can have just one year because results are needed first." — Jorge Valdano, former Real Madrid pundit

Sports Illustrated

• "Klopp would welcome the possibility of taking the job at the Santiago Bernabeu. He finds the club’s sporting project appealing and would be willing to accept the position if he receives an official offer." — Josep Pedrerol, Spanish journalist

Klopp ‘will be the next Real Madrid coach’ as Kroos link ‘tips scales’ away from Mourinho