Is Jurgen Klopp Returning As Manager?
Jürgen Klopp may have left the Premier League behind, but the football world hasn’t stopped wondering what’s next for him. After his emotional departure from Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season, Klopp said he needed a break, time to rest, reflect, and recharge. But even now, just months later, fresh speculation about his future is beginning to bubble.
This week, that speculation took a more concrete turn thanks to a close friend and former Klopp teammate. Miroslav Tanjga, who played with Klopp at Mainz and now manages Serbian side Vojvodina, has shared some insight into what the former Liverpool boss might be planning. It is news that could excite fans in both Madrid and Germany.
Two Dream Jobs, Real Madrid, and Germany
Tanjga’s comments came during a chat with Spanish outlet AS, and they’ve already stirred plenty of conversation. He revealed that Klopp has two major football goals left: managing Real Madrid and the German national team.
“What Klopp told me when he left Liverpool was that he had two wishes: to be the coach of the national team and of Real Madrid. I don’t know if either of them will come true,” Tanjga said.
It’s a statement that’s hard to ignore, especially given the timing. Real Madrid could be on the hunt for a new manager soon, with Carlo Ancelotti reportedly lined up to take charge of the Brazilian national team after this season. The Spanish giants may be preparing for a change, and Klopp, with his charisma, brilliant man management, tactical intelligence, and proven pedigree, would undoubtedly be on their radar.
Tanjga added, “He’s certainly one of the candidates for the Real Madrid job, but for now, all of this is pure speculation. I also know that he never saw himself as the coach of any other team in England, except Liverpool. He doesn’t want to go to Serie A or France, and at some point, I think he’ll become the German coach.”
Klopp’s Current Role At Red Bull
Right now, Klopp is far from the spotlight of the dugout. He’s taken up a role with the Red Bull football group as Head of Global Soccer. It’s a more strategic position, focused on overseeing football operations across Red Bull’s portfolio of clubs, including RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.
It’s a role that keeps him connected to the sport while giving him some space from the relentless 9 years at Liverpool, where he won the lot, but had to compete with Pep Guardiola, which can be mentally draining. But that doesn’t mean he’s forgotten the itch to manage.
Tanjga hinted at just that: “We talk, but he is now an ambassador for Red Bull, so he deals with the clubs of that group all over the world and doesn’t think too much about the coaching job. Whether he will get bored and go back to the bench, even he doesn’t know yet.”
A Return On the Horizon?
The prospect of Klopp at Real Madrid would be mouth-watering for fans and media alike. Los Blancos fans have criticized the current Real Madrid for not being tactically good enough. That is the main reason the club is on the verge of a trophyless campaign. There are not many better technicians than the former Borussia Dortmund manager, and he could be a perfect fix for their problems.
Also, the idea of him taking the helm of the German national team, especially ahead of a World Cup cycle, would be just as compelling. While Tanjga was clear that nothing was confirmed, his words gave weight to the idea that Klopp’s break from management won’t last forever.
He’s not interested in coaching another English side as he claims he has too much respect for Liverpool to do so. He’s not heading to Italy or France. There’s Real Madrid, and there’s Germany. And for a manager who once transformed Mainz, conquered Germany with Dortmund, and led Liverpool to European and domestic glory, it feels fitting that his final chapters would be written on the biggest stages possible.
So, is Jurgen Klopp returning as manager? Not yet. But if his friend is to be believed, the next time we see him on the touchline, it won’t be just another job, it will be one of his dreams come true.
