Klopp Offers Eye-Opening Verdict on Alonso Dismissal as Madrid Links Swirl
Jurgen Klopp has shared his honest reaction to the shock dismissal of Xabi Alonso by Real Madrid, just seven months into the Spaniard’s reign. The 44-year-old was sacked less than 24 hours after Los Blancos were beaten by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Alonso had arrived from Bayer Leverkusen with a glittering reputation, having guided the German side to Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Supercup success. Widely regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in world football, his history as a Real Madrid player between 2009 and 2014 made the appointment seem a perfect fit.
Despite sitting just four points behind Barcelona after 19 La Liga games, Madrid decided to pull the plug. Beyond results, it was suggested that Alonso may have lost the support of key figures in the dressing room.
Speaking shortly after the news broke, Klopp gave his verdict while working as a pundit on Servus TV. The former Liverpool boss said the decision hinted that “something isn’t quite right” at the Bernabéu.
Asked whether his phone had been ringing, Klopp replied:
“It actually has – though not from Madrid. But yes, a few people 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 has shown in Leverkusen over the last two years what an outstanding coaching talent he is, is then forced to leave Madrid just six months later, it says a lot.
“On the one hand, it shows there’s no time anymore in modern football. On the other, the expectations at Real Madrid are obviously enormous. Making a decision like that straight after losing a cup final to Barcelona says a lot. We’d already been hearing rumours for a while.”
Klopp was keen to distance himself from any speculation linking him with the role, adding:
“This has absolutely nothing to do with me, and it didn’t trigger anything for me either. I was genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis.”
His comments quickly went viral, sparking intense debate online about Madrid’s decision and whether Klopp would ever consider the job. Earlier in the season, the German had been tipped in some quarters as a potential successor if Alonso’s tenure unraveled. However, his remarks suggest he may view the club as an unstable environment.
It also remains uncertain whether the 58-year-old is ready to return to management at all, having stepped away from Liverpool in 2024 due to exhaustion.
In the meantime, Real Madrid have turned to Alvaro Arbeloa. The former Liverpool defender, who played at Anfield between 2007 and 2009, has been promoted from Castilla, where he had been in charge since May 2025, to take over first-team duties following Alonso’s departure.