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Jurgen Klopp has suggested he won't be rushing back into football management, despite rumours connecting him with the Real Madrid position. The Spanish powerhouse are searching for a permanent manager after Xabi Alonso's departure last week.

Alvaro Arbeloa has stepped in as caretaker boss. His debut was a nightmare, as the team crashed out of the Copa Del Rey to second-tier outfit Albacete in the last 16.

The side did manage to recover with a victory against Levante in La Liga on Saturday afternoon. A Kylian Mbappe spot-kick and a second-half strike from Raul Asencio secured a 2-0 victory.

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Reports suggest Klopp has emerged as a potential candidate for Real Madrid as they hunt for a new manager. It's claimed the German would seriously weigh up the role if the chance presented itself.

The former Liverpool boss currently serves as head of football for the Red Bull Group, a role he's occupied for just over 12 months. Yet that hasn't stopped speculation about a return to the dugout.

Speaking to The Athletic back in September, he dropped a hint about potentially returning to management. But when quizzed about the rumours in a fresh interview with the same media outlet, he chuckled, displaying a mixture of amusement and frustration.

"I know I can coach a football team, but that doesn't mean I have to do it until my last day," he said.

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"I wanted to do something different. Red Bull gave me an opportunity to find a role which we have been defining together, step by step. I'm in a place as a person where I'm completely at peace with where I am. I don't want to be somewhere else.

"I've got to know a lot of people who I didn't know before. I've been to a lot of business meetings and learned words that I never knew before.

"It's been a good time. One year in, five years of experience gained."

With Liverpool encountering some difficulties in defending their Premier League crown this season, speculation has emerged about a possible comeback to Anfield as a successor to current manager Arne Slot.

Klopp dedicated nearly a decade to the Merseyside club, securing both Premier League and Champions League glory. His trophy haul also included an FA Cup triumph and a pair of League Cup victories.