Jürgen Klopp emerges as top managerial candidate for Real Madrid next summer

Real Madrid have lined up former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp as their top contender should they plan to appoint a reputed manager next summer, according to Sky Sports.

Despite his lengthy contract with the Red Bull group, Madrid holds a major appeal for him, and Klopp could give it serious consideration.

The German left Liverpool in 2024, saying he was “running out of energy” after winning six trophies with the club, including the Premier League and Champions League. He joined Red Bull in January last year as the head of global soccer.

Madrid announce the departure of Xabi Alonso a day after their defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, with Álvaro Arbeloa named his replacement.

Alonso endured a difficult start to life in the Spanish capital since his appointment in the summer of 2025.

His tenure was married by internal conflict, with reports of clashes with senior players, including co-captain Federico Valverde and winger Vinicius Junior.

Following Alonso’s exit from the Bernabéu, Klopp, who was appearing on ServusTV On, was asked whether his phone had already been ringing.

And the German was quick to defend the Spaniard as he offered his thoughts on the situation.

“It actually has (been ringing) – though not from Madrid,” he admitted. “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.

“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 is a big admirer of Los Blancos and will be eager to make his coaching return if the Spanish giants table a concrete offer.