Jurgen Klopp in contention for Real Madrid job amid Carlo Ancelotti uncertainty

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly in the running for the Real Madrid job should Carlo Ancelotti be dismissed.

Ancelotti has faced a difficult year at the Bernabéu, with Los Blancos currently sitting second in La Liga and on the brink of being eliminated from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage.

Real Madrid will host Arsenal in the second leg of their quarter-final clash on Wednesday night. However, they face an uphill battle after suffering a 3-0 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week.

If Madrid fail to overturn the deficit and also fall short in the league by failing to catch up with Barcelona’s four-point lead, it is widely expected that Ancelotti will be let go.

For some time, former Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has been considered the favourite to take over.

Alonso spent five years at the Bernabéu, winning La Liga in 2012, two Copa del Rey titles, and the 2014 Champions League. He has since impressed as the manager of Bayer Leverkusen, whom he joined in 2022.

Under his leadership, Leverkusen secured the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double last season, with their only defeat coming in the final of the Europa League.

However, this season has proven more challenging, with Leverkusen sitting six points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

They were knocked out by Bayern in the Champions League Last 16 and suffered a surprise defeat to third-division Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.

According to Sport, these setbacks have raised doubts about Alonso’s suitability for the Madrid job.

While Alonso remains a candidate for the role, the possibility of bringing in Klopp is reportedly gaining momentum among the club’s decision-makers.

Close associates of club president Florentino Pérez are said to believe that Klopp could be the solution to Madrid’s tactical issues.

Klopp’s experience in managing a high-pressure environment, coupled with his ability to develop a cohesive team, has made him a leading contender.

Although Klopp only recently took on a new role as Red Bull’s global head of soccer in January, an offer from Madrid is said to be an attractive proposition for the German manager.

The challenge of managing top-tier talents like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham could entice Klopp to consider a move back to club management.

Despite the growing speculation, it’s acknowledged that striking a deal for Jurgen Klopp would not be easy, given his current commitments and the complexities of such a high-profile move.

However, his potential arrival at the Bernabéu would signal a new era for the club.