Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has played down speculation linking him with the Real Madrid job following recent upheaval at the Bernabéu.

The football world was taken by surprise on Monday afternoon when Xabi Alonso was dismissed after just eight months in charge of Los Blancos. The club confirmed that Álvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as interim head coach, although Madrid are expected to consider more experienced options in the near future.

Klopp’s name has quickly emerged among the leading candidates, with the German long admired by the Spanish giants. However, Klopp stepped away from club management after leaving Liverpool in 2024 and currently serves as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, a role he has repeatedly suggested suits him better than a return to the dugout.

Speaking after the news of Alonso’s departure broke, Klopp admitted he had been contacted about the situation, though not by Real Madrid themselves.

“It actually has — though not from Madrid,” Klopp said. “There were definitely a few people who felt they had to contact me directly about it.

“It shows that nowadays there’s no time anymore. On the one hand, 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.”

Klopp added that the speculation has no bearing on his own plans, insisting he was merely an observer to events unfolding in Spain.

“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,” he explained.

“I was surprised, that’s true — genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis.”

For now, Klopp appears content in his current role, distancing himself from talk of a sensational move to Real Madrid despite the growing speculation.