Jürgen Klopp has decided to respond for the first time to rumors linking him to the Real Madrid head coach position following Xabi Alonso's dismissal.
On 13 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Jürgen Klopp, the renowned German coach, spoke out for the first time amid speculation that he might be a candidate for Real Madrid's head coach role after the sudden firing of Xabi Alonso.
After parting ways with Alonso, who had led the "Los Blancos" for less than a season, Klopp—former coach of Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool—was immediately mentioned as a top candidate. However, he clearly dismissed these rumors.
Klopp told ServusTV,
"This has nothing to do with me, and it does not affect me in any way."
The 58-year-old former Liverpool coach emphasized that he is happy with his current role as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull and has no plans to return to coaching at this time.
"Coaching roles change all the time. Being able to watch from the sidelines without worrying about personal impact is good because where I am now is the right place for me."
Additionally, Klopp expressed sympathy for Xabi Alonso, who faced immense pressure stepping in after Carlo Ancelotti.
"It signals that something might not have been quite right there if a coach who showed great talent over two years at Leverkusen has to leave Real Madrid after just six months."
Klopp added that succeeding a legendary coach like Ancelotti is not easy.
"When you take over from a coach with a clear team approach, it's very difficult to make changes. That made Alonso's situation too difficult. I really feel for him because I think he's an excellent coach."
Klopp began working as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull about a year ago and there is no indication he will return to coaching soon.