Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has questioned the widespread criticism that came his way after he was appointed as Red Bull’s global head of soccer in October.
Klopp fostered a reputation as a footballing purist during his managerial career in Germany with Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund before winning hearts and minds for his football and philosophy at Liverpool. His thoughts and feelings are believed to clash with the image of Red Bull’s sporting project.
The fizzy drink empire have invested in football clubs spanning three different continents, changing the colours and badges of these historic institutions to match Red Bull’s design.
Fans of Klopp’s former club, Borussia Dortmund, have been particularly vocal in their hatred of RB Leipzig – the German club under Red Bull’s umbrella – and criticised Klopp on social media. Mainz supporters took their Bundesliga meeting with Leipzig as an opportunity to produce a series of banners slamming their former manager and player.
After listening to everybody else’s unfavourable opinion, Klopp gave his own take. “I really don’t know what exactly I could have done for everyone to be happy,” the German coach told the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, hosted by Toni Kroos and his brother Felix.
Jürgen Klopp ➡️ Red Bull! 🪽@jacob_culshaw reveals the real reason why the ex-Liverpool manager joined the sporting giants. 👀 pic.twitter.com/dtEmUOGatl
— 90min (@90min_Football) October 9, 2024
“I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes, definitely not, and personally I love all of my ex-clubs,” Klopp explained.
When announcing his shock exit at Liverpool, the enigmatic coach claimed that he was “running out of energy”. Many questioned how that could be the case given his appointment at Red Bull, which will start from January 2025, six months after leaving Merseyside.
“I’m 57 so I can still work for a couple more years but I don’t really see myself on the sideline [as a coach] for the time being,” Klopp reasoned. “But it was always clear that I wasn’t going to do nothing at all. And then this story with Red Bull came into the picture, and for me it’s outstanding.”
On the specifics of his role at Red Bull, Klopp told the Kroos brothers: “Basically, I’m an advisor. Hopefully I can bring calm in different ways and, in other situations, assess things correctly and help the coaches.
“But I just want to support, not interfere, because I know how disruptive that is. Instead, I want to pass on my experience and work in the world that I know best.”
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