No calls to Klopp after Alonso's Madrid dismissal
Jurgen Klopp says he has not received any calls from Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso's dismissal on Tuesday (AEDT).
Alonso's time in the Madrid dugout came to an end after 34 games, with his final match in charge a 3-2 loss to Clasico rival Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final.
Alvaro Arbeloa has been named as his immediate replacement, but reports in Germany have since suggested that Klopp is a candidate to take over in the summer if Madrid opts to look for a new boss at the end of the campaign.
The German has been out of management since leaving Liverpool in May 2024, after nine and a half years in charge at Anfield and is now the head of global soccer for Red Bull.
He has now been questioned about possibly making a return to coaching, but Klopp insisted he has had no contact with Madrid at all.
"I think the rumours have been circulating for some time now. And I know exactly what your question is getting at, but it has nothing to do with me," Klopp told Austrian TV when asked if his phone had started ringing after Alonso's departure.
"It has actually rung, but not from Madrid," he added with a laugh.
Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti prior to the FIFA Club World Cup after a successful spell in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Spaniard oversaw 34 games in his seven months in charge, winning 24 of those.
Madrid is four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga, on top of losing the Supercopa, and Klopp highlighted the high standards at the club.
"[Alonso's exit] is another sign that something isn't working perfectly there," Klopp added.
"This shows several things: on the one hand, that we [coaches] no longer have any time, and on the other hand, that the demands at Real Madrid are, logically, enormous.
"I think when you arrive after a legend and an incredibly good coach who had a very specific way of coaching his team – Carlo Ancelotti – if you arrive there and try to implement some new rules, this time it seems it has proven too difficult."
