Fresh from his final match as Borussia Dortmund coach, Jurgen Klopp confirmed yesterday he will take an undetermined break from coaching, despite being linked to Real Madrid, Napoli and Liverpool.

After seven years as head coach, the 47-year-old had his last game in charge of Dortmund in Saturday's 1-3 defeat to VfL Wolfsburg in the German Cup final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium to deny him a fairytale farewell.

"After seven intensive and emotional years, I think it makes sense to process the countless memories, so that my coaching team and I can start our next job fresh and motivated," said Klopp yesterday after a meeting with his agent Marc Kosicke.

But with no specification as to how long the break will last, Klopp is sure to end his self-imposed sabbatical as soon as the right job offer comes along.

Having led Dortmund to the 2013 Champions League final after winning the Bundesliga in 2011 and claiming the German league and cup double in 2012, Saturday's defeat was Klopp's last game before Thomas Tuchel takes over as head coach next season.

Media outlets have linked Klopp to Liverpool, where Brendan Rogers is under pressure after a poor season where the Reds finished sixth, Real, which sacked Carlos Ancelotti last week, and Napoli, whose current coach Rafael Benitez is set to take over at Real.

Benitez, in fact, has arrived in Spain where he is expected to sign the contract with Real.

Benitez was spotted leaving Madrid's airport yesterday after arriving on a flight from Naples. Real's club vice president, Eduardo Fernandez, let slip on Saturday that Benitez will be Ancelotti's successor.

Real is pinning its hopes on Benitez leading the club to renewed success and overtaking arch-rival Barcelona in La Liga and in Europe.

The 55-year-old Madrid-born former defender, who spent part of his student days at the Spanish powerhouse's academy, began his coaching career with the club's youth squad.

Benitez guided Valencia to the Spanish league title in 2002 and 2004 and won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)