Jurgen Klopp in no rush to return to management amid Real Madrid interest

 Jürgen Klopp is unlikely to return to management before the summer of next year – if at all – as the former Liverpool manager continues to be linked with Real Madrid.

The German is in the early days of his job as the head of global soccer at Red Bull, where he is in the throes of squad planning for the six clubs whom the drinks brand control, ahead of next season.

Klopp has pledged from the start to throw himself into the job with Red Bull and has in the past tended to stay long term in coaching roles.

He left Liverpool at the end of last season to recharge and the Red Bull role suited the way he wanted to live, without the intense day-to-day pressure of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world. He has, nevertheless, travelled to Japan and to Brazil to meet the clubs whom he now oversees, as well as those in Europe and New York.

There has been a run of reports in the Spanish media suggesting that, with regard to Real, he is the first choice of Anas Laghari, one of those figures jostling for position to succeed Florentino Pérez as president. While the 78-year-old has been Real president for 22 of the last 25 years, there are clearly questions about who comes next. Laghari has worked on financing at Real via Key Capital Partners as well as being a founder of A22 Sports, which runs the Super League project on behalf of Real and Barcelona.

It has always been suggested in Spain that Pérez is now in his last term as president although this has never been officially confirmed. He was elected unopposed in January for a term that lasts until 2029. With part or all of the club likely to be privatised at some point it was expected at the last two AGMs that a referendum for members on the measure would be held, but no such announcement has come. 

Klopp is reportedly the first choice of Laghari although what influence he is likely to exert in the event of Carlo Ancelotti’s departure at the end of the season is unclear. Another strong contender is José Ángel Sánchez, who runs the club as de facto chief executive.

Klopp’s plan currently goes no further than Red Bull and having given himself a change of lifestyle there have been no indications that he is ready to go back to full-time management now – and there are no guarantees he ever will. He is understood to have enjoyed becoming a grandfather for the first time.

He has always liked the idea of international management with Germany the most likely option after the United States men’s team or even England. It was always assumed that a man who thrives on the biggest stage would pursue a return to one of the top clubs as soon as he had enjoyed some time away but since the turn of the year he has been absorbed by the Red Bull job. After the World Cup in 2026 it is likely that many leading nations will be looking for new managers, including England.

Klopp’s former club Liverpool will win the Premier League on Wednesday night if Crystal Palace beat Arsenal.