JURGEN KLOPP has spoken out following Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid sacking amid links to the job.
Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso was axed a day after Madrid’s Super Cup loss to Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.
Alvaro Arbeloa – who played with Alonso at Anfield, Madrid and Spain – has replaced his former team-mate on a contract until 2027.
Ex-Liverpool manager Klopp – now working as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer – was working on TV when the news of Alonso’s sacking broke.
The host asked: “Has your phone already started ringing?”
To which Klopp, 58, replied: “It actually has — though not from Madrid.
Shock exit
Former Man Utd coach who Fletcher replaced quits new role after just five months
Black Edition
Win a Volvo XC60 plus £2,000 or £38,000 cash from just 12p with our code
“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 – who joined Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund in 2015 – won the Premier League and Champions League in Merseyside.
But he left in July 2024 after nine trophy-laden years – taking on the role with Red Bull three months later.
According to Sky Sports in Germany, Klopp “would seriously consider” taking over at Madrid.
He was even said to be on a shortlist of potential candidates to have replaced Alonso before Arbeloa was promoted from Madrid’s B team.
The Spanish giants – four points off league leaders Barca – are still considering Klopp as a summer appointment.
Read the full article here
