Jurgen Klopp could be poised for a stunning return to management just months after Tottenham were encouraged to appoint the ex-Liverpool manager, although it’s unlikely to be with the north Londoners. Since January 2025, Klopp has worked as Red Bull’s Head of Global Football, managing operations across its group of clubs such as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls, among others.

The German previously claimed he was done with coaching, though he has lately softened that stance. Amid reports linking him to Real Madrid, Klopp rejected the talk, insisting: “That is all nonsense. They didn’t even call – not once. They didn’t even call my agent.” Still, he continued: “As for the future, I’m not quite finished as a coach yet. So who knows what might come up in the next few years. But there are absolutely no plans in that regard.”

Throughout the campaign, Klopp has also been linked with a possible return to Liverpool. However, former Spurs chairman Alan Sugar has expressed a desire to see him take charge in north London.

In December, he said: “With the massive fortune of the Lewis family [who own Spurs], it would be a win-win situation if they hired Jurgen Klopp in January. Loads of money for players and a great manager. Who agrees?”

At that point, then-head coach Thomas Frank was under scrutiny following a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, which left Spurs sitting 11th. Three months on, the situation has deteriorated significantly, with Tottenham now down in 17th after another 3-0 defeat to Forest.

That result – their sixth loss in seven league fixtures – has put interim manager Igor Tudor under serious pressure. Installed in February after Frank’s exit, Tudor has secured only one victory in seven games – a frantic 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, which ultimately counted for little as Spurs were eliminated 7-5 on aggregate.

Tottenham now face a genuine risk of relegation from the Premier League, in what could be one of the most shocking drops from the top tier since Manchester United went down in 1974.

When league play resumes after the international break, Spurs will face Sunderland – a fixture that may be crucial for Tudor’s future. With his deal due to run out at the end of the season, the club are already expected to pursue a long-term appointment this summer, though that timeline could accelerate if Tudor leaves sooner.

Names like Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi have been mentioned as possible candidates. Yet the growing danger of relegation may complicate any hiring plans.

Despite Sugar’s proposal, Klopp has essentially dismissed the idea of managing another English side. After stepping down from Liverpool in 2024, he said: “If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say now no. What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible.”

During his nine-year tenure at Anfield, Klopp collected numerous trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. Although he secured only one league crown, his team consistently performed at a top level, surpassing 90 points on three occasions – only to be edged out twice by Pep Guardiola’s dominant Manchester City side.

Alan Sugar bought his childhood club, Tottenham, in 1991 during a period of major financial difficulty. While his ownership helped steady the club financially, success on the field proved much harder to achieve.

Across nearly 10 years as chairman, Spurs claimed just one trophy – the 1999 League Cup. Their best league finish in that era was seventh, and they ended 10th or lower in seven separate seasons.