Jürgen Klopp’s agent has branded talk of a move to Real Madrid “annoying” after presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme insisted the German would be his first choice to lead the club if he wins Sunday’s election.
Marc Kosicke said in a post on social media, quoted by Sky Germany: “It’s annoying! Jürgen Klopp is happy in his role at Red Bull and has no ambitions to work as a coach at a club.”
“Klopp's agent calls Real Madrid talk 'annoying', insists he is happy at Red Bull with no coaching ambitions.”
Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 to become Red Bull’s global head of football, a role that has taken him around the world overseeing the brand’s teams. He has not been in a dugout since, aside from charity matches.
Despite Klopp’s repeated denials, Riquelme — a 37-year-old renewable energy entrepreneur — released a statement vowing to pursue him if elected. “We know that Jürgen Klopp has publicly stated that he has no intention of returning to the dugout in the short term, and that he has turned down numerous offers,” the statement read. “That is precisely why we believe the challenge of Real Madrid is different. Because there are great clubs, but there is only one Real Madrid.”
Riquelme added that on 8 June, if he wins, proposed sporting director Raúl González Blanco would contact Klopp to convey the project and the wish for him to “lead, from the bench, our new era.”
The election has already provoked controversy. Riquelme claimed Erling Haaland wanted to join Madrid — appearing on television with a Madrid shirt bearing the striker’s name — prompting Manchester City to threaten legal action. He also promised Rodri would leave City for the Bernabéu.
Incumbent president Florentino Pérez, 79, has said José Mourinho will return as coach if he is re-elected, releasing a short video of Mourinho saying “Yes!”
Klopp himself has previously dismissed the rumours. In March, he said: “If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now. But that’s all nonsense. They haven’t called even once, not once. ... Right now I’m not thinking about that. ... For my age I’m quite advanced in life, but as a coach I’m not completely finished.”
According to the Sun, Klopp dreams of one day managing Germany, currently coached by Julian Nagelsmann.
For now, though, Kosicke was unequivocal: “Jürgen Klopp ... has no ambitions to work as a coach at a club.”