Real Madrid Plan Klopp as Manager and Kroos as Assistant Coach

Spanish journalist François Gallardo of El Chiringuito has reported that Real Madrid plans to appoint former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as head coach and club legend Toni Kroos as first-team coach.

According to Gallardo, who shared the information on April 14, 2026, the contract with Klopp was finalized in December 2025. The arrangement stipulates that Klopp will take over the managerial role this summer, succeeding interim manager Álvaro Arbeloa after the conclusion of the current season.

The proposed coaching structure would see Toni Kroos return to the club to serve as the assistant or first-team coach under Klopp. Kroos, who retired from professional football in 2024, is a former midfielder for the Spanish giants from 2014 until 2024. During his tenure at the Estadio Bernabéu, Kroos won five Champions League titles, four LaLiga titles, and one Copa del Rey.

Integration of Toni Kroos

The report follows earlier claims from the Spanish publication AS, which stated on April 12 that Real Madrid was preparing for Kroos’s return for the next season. AS reported that senior figures at Valdebebas, the club’s training ground, had reached an agreement to integrate the former midfielder into the club’s sporting structure.

While AS indicated that roles such as technical director or other undefined positions had been suggested for Kroos, Gallardo specifically identified the role as Klopp’s assistant.

Jurgen Klopp’s Current Status

Jurgen Klopp currently holds the position of global head of football for Red Bull. Despite the reports of a finalized agreement with Real Madrid, Klopp has previously distanced himself from rumors regarding the manager position at the club.

In previous statements, Klopp reiterated that while he is not retiring from management, it was not yet the right time to take on the role at Real Madrid.

If the appointments are confirmed, the pairing would bring together Klopp’s known approach to gegenpressing and the tactical intelligence of Kroos within the Real Madrid system.