JAKARTA – Real Madrid’s presidential candidate, Enrique Riquelme, has promised to appoint Jurgen Klopp as the new manager if he is elected on Sunday, June 7, 2026, local time.
Riquelme, who will compete with incumbent Florentino Perez in this weekend’s election, said in a statement on Friday, June 5, 2026, that he believed he could persuade Klopp to return to coaching.
If he wins on Sunday, he said his preferred sporting director – former Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez – would contact the former Liverpool boss, who has not coached since leaving Anfield in 2024, the following day.
“We know that Jurgen Klopp has publicly stated that he has no intention of returning to the coaching bench in the near future and that he has turned down many offers.”
“It is precisely because of this that we believe Real Madrid’s challenge is different. There are big clubs, but there is only one Real Madrid. There is only one institution that can unite tradition and the future, values and ambition, passion and excellence.”
“For that reason, if the members give me their trust this Sunday, on Monday Raul will contact Jurgen Klopp to convey in person our sports project and our desire that he be the person who leads, from the bench, a new era for Real Madrid.”
“We are talking about one of the best coaches of our time. However, most importantly, we are talking about a leader who is able to restore Real Madrid’s competitive intensity, daily demands, professionalism, meritocracy, locker room unity, and pride for a job well done that has always been the hallmark of great eras in our history,” Riquelme said in a statement.
Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke, immediately responded to Riquelme’s statement by denying that there was an option for him to become the next Real Madrid coach.
“It’s annoying! Jurgen Klopp is happy with his role at Red Bull and has no ambition to work as a coach at a club,” Kosicke told Sky Sports Germany.
Riquelme’s promise comes at the weekend where he and Perez have tried to influence Real Madrid members to vote on Sunday by making big promises.
He had previously announced Raul as sporting director, an advisory role for former Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, and angered Manchester City by expressing an interest in signing midfielder Rodri and striker Erling Haaland.
The association with Haaland has greatly upset the English League club, who said they were considering legal action against Riquelme for using the image of the Norwegian player.
Meanwhile, Perez has confirmed that Jose Mourinho will be the club’s new coach if he is re-elected, with Benfica saying Real Madrid would have to pay the Portuguese coach’s release clause of 15 million euros in that scenario.
He has also lined up deals for Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries, while guaranteeing to offer 150 million euros for one of the biggest stars in football if he stays in the Real Madrid presidency despite not revealing who the player is.
In Sunday’s vote, Real Madrid members will choose between Riquelme and Perez in the club’s first contested election in 20 years.
This comes after the team finished two consecutive seasons without winning a major trophy under Perez, who has led the club for 23 of the last 26 years.
Renewable energy entrepreneur Riquelme, 37, emerged as Perez’s only rival last month when he hastily announced the election after what he called a smear campaign against him and Real Madrid by some Spanish media.
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