Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid just seven months after replacing Carlo Ancelotti. The Spaniard was appointed on a three-year deal back in June 2025 but he has parted ways after a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday (January 11th).
But there is more to the story than just a cup final defeat to Madrid's El Clasico rivals. Reports claim that tension between Alonso and his players had intensified in recent weeks and that's beyond his supposed issues with Vinicius Junior.
Alvaro Arbeloa has been announced as his replacement although the club has yet to explain his role. The Spaniard might just be moving into a caretaker position before a permanent decision is made at the end of the season.
There are several names being thrown about following Alonso's shock exit including Jurgen Klopp. The former Liverpool boss isn't currently managing and has a storied history with Los Blancos.
Jurgen Klopp to replace Alonso?
Klopp spent nine years in charge of Liverpool and guided the Premier League giants to the league title for the first time in 30 years. The German also led the Reds to the Champions League and became one of the club's greatest managers in history.
Throughout his time at Anfield there were links to Madrid and there previously been suggestions that he has always envisioned taking charge at the Estadio Bernabeu. One of his close friends even revealed that he was eyeing the job after he left Merseyside at the end of the 2023-24 season.
But Madridistas shouldn't get excited about the possibility of the 58-year-old replacing Alonso. His agent, Marc Kosicke, ruled him out of the running to succeed Carlo Ancelotti last April.
Kosicke told Sky Sports Germany (via Yahoo! Sports):
"Jurgen is very happy with his new role as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull. He’s fully focused and happy there."
Klopp took up the role of head of Global Soccer at Red Bull in January 2025 and it's a position that sees him run the footballing operations of Red Bull teams. That includes Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig and Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg.
Madrid instead appointed Alonso who had impressed in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. But the club's board might now have to plan for another new long-term manager unless Arbeloa is put in permanent charge.
Klopp 'wished' to become Madrid coach
While Klopp's agent downplayed suggestions he could be a Madrid manager in waiting, that wasn't one of his former teammates' verdict. Miroslav Tanjga whom he played with at Mainz said that the German was eyeing the Bernabeu job and the Germany national team coaching role after his Liverpool exit.
Tanjga claimed (via The Mirror) in May 2025:
“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."
Klopp encountered Madrid several times during his managerial career, mostly in Champions League finals. He failed to ever beat Los Blancos with the European title on the line, suffering two defeats as Liverpool boss in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 final.
The German fits the bill to become a Los Blancos boss though with a charismatic personality and a heavy-metal brand of football. The issues reported between Alonso and the players wouldn't likely occur under his management as he is renowned for building a family-like enviroment in the dressing room.