Xabi Alonso and Jurgen Klopp next steps amid Real Madrid, Man Utd and Man City links

Xabi Alonso and Jurgen Klopp are both being linked with returns to management, with the former looking for a new job after being fired by Real Madrid earlier this week

Xabi Alonso and Jurgen Klopp are both being linked with a few managerial jobs(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool fans will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Xabi Alonso and Jurgen Klopp at the moment, with the former’s firing at Real Madrid this week having an impact on both of them.

Alonso was relieved of his duties on Monday following defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. His dismissal had been on the cards for some time, with rumors of a change having first emerged before the turn of the year.

He has been replaced by another former Red, and one of his teammates from both Anfield and the Bernabeu, in Alvaro Arbeloa - although reports have suggested that Real could look to Klopp.

With both Liverpool icons’ futures being intrinsically linked with each other, here is the latest on Alonso and Klopp’s next steps…

Xabi Alonso

Despite being fired less than eight months into the job at the Bernabeu, Alonso will still be a sought-after manager for a number of clubs. His stint in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, which led to an unbeaten domestic double in his first full season, will keep plenty of big clubs interested.

Indeed, there have already been a few pundits suggesting that Alonso could be destined to return to Liverpool, having been one of the favorites to take over from Klopp in 2024. It should be pointed out though there is no indication that the Reds are looking to make a change from Arne Slot at the moment.

Liverpool’s rivals though could be interested. Manchester United of course needs to find a new manager in the summer, having just appointed Michael Carrick as interim boss.

Xabi Alonso was fired by Real Madrid after defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup(Image: Getty Images)

Alonso’s name has been mentioned in passing, and according to the Daily Mail, he was considered before United decided upon giving Erik ten Hag a new deal in the summer of 2024 - only to fire him a few months later.

The former midfielder’s connections with Liverpool look too big a hurdle to overcome, with Alonso having already indicated he couldn’t go to Old Trafford. Manchester City could be a different proposition though.

There have been rumors that Pep Guardiola could leave the Etihad this summer, and The Athletic did report towards the end of 2024 that Alonso was being spoken about as a potential successor.

That would be a tough one for Liverpool fans to take, but if Guardiola were to walk away, Alonso could be among the names in the hat to take over from him.

Jurgen Klopp

There was an air of inevitability about Klopp being linked with the Real Madrid job once Alonso’s firing was confirmed - and even the swift announcement of Arbeloa’s succession couldn’t stop the rumors from starting.

A day after the announcement, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg was claiming that the former Liverpool boss was under consideration for the Bernabeu hot seat, should Real look for a new manager in the summer.

What’s more, it’s suggested that Klopp, who has been working as Red Bull’s head of global soccer since Janaury 2025, would seriously consider the job if Real made a serious move for him.

However, since leaving Anfield, Klopp has shown little desire to step back into management, and has regularly knocked back suggestions of a return to the sidelines in interviews.

In fact, just hours after Alonso’s firing had been announced, Klopp seemed to play down the possibility of him taking over in Madrid.

Jurgen Klopp has shown little desire to step back into management since taking on his role at Red Bull(Image: Getty Images)

Reacting to Alonso’s dismissal, Klopp said: "On the one hand, it shows that nowadays there’s no time anymore. On the other, 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. 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, which would probably have been the follow-up question.”