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Just a few days ago, Jürgen Klopp was considered little more than a (very) remote possibility to become Real Madrid's next head coach, with José Mourinho appearing almost certain to take the reins at the Bernabéu. However, the upcoming presidential elections have shifted the landscape considerably.
Presidential hopeful Enrique Riquelme has indicated that he would not pursue Mourinho should he win the vote on Sunday, June 7, while hinting that he already has a potential manager secured and ready to commit.
Speaking earlier this week, Riquelme disclosed: "We finalized the coaching deal before announcing my candidacy," adding that the coach "is under contract with a team."
The identity of that individual remains unknown, as Riquelme has chosen not to publicly attach a name to his campaign. Nevertheless, he has dropped a few hints.
Presidential Candidate Linked With Klopp
The 37-year-old green energy entrepreneur has told various media outlets that his target has no prior history with Madrid (ruling out both Mourinho and Zidane) and is currently contracted to another club.
In one campaign promotional video, Riquelme can be heard telling a colleague, "If Klopp or (Erling) Haaland call, you pick up the phone."
When directly questioned about a possible interest in Klopp by The Athletic, Riquelme responded: "I cannot say whether he is or is not at this stage. The sporting professionals currently working within the project are handling those discussions, and I cannot share more than that right now. We will see in the coming days."
Whether Klopp represents a genuine option within Riquelme's vision for Madrid is yet to be determined, but invoking the German's name on the campaign trail is clearly a strategic move to present an alternative direction for the club compared to Pérez's agenda.
In managerial terms, few figures could be more different than Klopp and Mourinho. The former Liverpool boss's energetic, crowd-igniting heavy metal football and his profound bond with players and supporters would likely appeal to fans skeptical of Mourinho's more calculated approach and volatile temperament.
The prospect of Klopp is undeniably exciting. Here's how Real Madrid could look with the German in charge.
Jürgen Klopp's Preferred Formation
Few managers in world football have stamped such a distinctive identity on the sport as Klopp, whose sides—from Mainz to Dortmund and Liverpool—have been characterized by their relentless counter-pressing philosophy, known as Gegenpressing.
Tactically, Klopp typically favored a 4-3-3 formation at Liverpool, leaning on the explosive wide pairing of Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah to function as auxiliary strikers and generate the bulk of the attacking threat, rather than relying on a traditional center forward.
While Klopp's most successful Liverpool period saw him deploy Roberto Firmino brilliantly in the 'false nine' role, he also achieved considerable success with a more conventional striker in Robert Lewandowski during his time at Dortmund.
Another hallmark of Klopp's teams is a hardworking, combative midfield unit, along with center backs who excel in aerial duels.
With Klopp currently serving as Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull, it is worth noting that RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg—the group's most prominent European clubs—have predominantly operated in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape this season.
How Jürgen Klopp Could Set Up at Real Madrid (4-3-3)
GK: Thibaut Courtois—Madrid's Belgian shot-stopper famously thwarted Liverpool in the 2022 Champions League final with a string of outstanding saves, prompting Klopp to lament "that f---er Courtois had 12 hands."
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold—Perhaps no player would gain more from Klopp's arrival at the Bernabéu than Alexander-Arnold. The right back blossomed into a global star at Liverpool under the German, who guided him from academy prospect to one of football's premier assist providers.
CB: Ibrahima Konaté—A Klopp appointment could pave the way for another Liverpool reunion in the shape of Konaté, whose future at Anfield remains uncertain. Long touted as a Madrid target, the France international has yet to pen a new deal despite his current contract expiring within weeks.
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck—Real Madrid are widely expected to bring in at least one new center back this summer following David Alaba's departure and Éder Militão's latest injury setback. They may, however, require two. Raúl Asencio is another player whose future is uncertain, as is Antonio Rüdiger's capacity to feature in multiple games per week. Schlotterbeck agreed a new deal at Klopp's former club Dortmund this spring—one that includes a release clause applicable to select clubs.
LB: Álvaro Carreras—It has not been the debut season Carreras would have hoped for, having struggled for consistency at times. That said, left back is unlikely to be a priority position for Madrid in the transfer window.
CM: Federico Valverde—From İlkay Gündoğan to James Milner, Klopp has always valued energetic runners in midfield. Valverde—set to inherit the captain's armband—fits perfectly into the German's system as a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder. The German is unlikely to tolerate training ground altercations from his leaders, however.
CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—The Frenchman possesses the ideal profile to operate as the deepest midfielder in a three-man unit, providing a defensive screen in the manner that Fabinho did for Liverpool during Klopp's most successful years. That is, provided any lingering tensions can be resolved first.
CM: Jude Bellingham—The English midfielder, who has been asked to fill numerous roles for Real Madrid, recently described himself as a victim of his own versatility. Should Klopp take charge, Bellingham may find himself deployed in a deeper position with greater defensive duties. A player like the frequently mentioned Kees Smit could also be considered for Klopp's setup.
RW: Yan Diomande—The crown jewel of the Red Bull stable. Could Klopp bring the young Ivorian along with him? Diomande was crowned Bundesliga Rookie of the Season after netting 13 goals and contributing eight assists in his debut campaign for RB Leipzig.
ST: Kylian Mbappé—After claiming back-to-back Pichichi Trophy honors, it feels strange—yet accurate—to say that Mbappé finds himself at a crossroads in his Madrid career. The Frenchman lacks the press-from-the-front qualities that Klopp prizes, yet his goal-scoring ability is simply too exceptional to overlook.
LW: Vinicius Jr—Despite an underwhelming season overall, Vinicius Jr's statistics remained solid and the Brazilian has continued to express his wish to remain at Madrid as his contract approaches its end. Klopp has previously unlocked the best from elite wide forwards, though some degree of mutual compromise may be required.