Jurgen Klopp calls Real Madrid speculation 'nonsense' but says he is 'not completely finished' in management

Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 after a highly successful run that included UEFA Champions League glory and the Premier League title among other successes. He has not managed since, instead taking up a role with Red Bull as head of global football. But now the 58-year-old has addressed media speculation of a move to Real Madrid, hinting that he could return to management in the future.

When Jurgen Klopp announced that he was leaving Liverpool early, there was speculation as to where the manager would end up next. But instead of taking another managerial role, he wound up at Red Bull as their head of global football. 

Nonetheless, his success with Liverpool means he will always be a hot prospect, and there has been plenty of speculation linking him with Real Madrid of late. 

Klopp was quick to dispel the rumours though at the Magenta TV World Cup team presentation.

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”If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now,” he explained, as reported by BBC Sport. 

"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.”

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Klopp cited that he was ”running out of energy” when he announced he was leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2024 season, having joined the club in 2015. 

Since he departed - to be replaced by Arne Slot - Klopp has not managed a club, and while he has ruled out a return to the Premier League bar for Liverpool, he has not closed the door on other leagues. 

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"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.

"What I know definitely is that I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100%. That's not possible," he concluded. 

Prior to joining Liverpool, Klopp managed Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates winning the Premier League at Liverpool.

Image credit: Getty Images

He took the latter to the Bundesliga title, before his run with Liverpool that included glory in the FA Cup and League Cup, along with those coveted Champions League and Premier League titles. 

Xabi Alonso was in charge at Real Madrid until January, when he left the club by ”mutual consent.” He was replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa. 

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