Under fire from some of his former supporters, Jürgen Klopp wanted to justify his decision to become global head of football for Red Bull, a position he will occupy from January 1, 2025.
In a podcast hosted by Toni and Felix Kroos, the former Liverpool manager called the project a“exceptional” and clarified: “At 57, I didn’t see myself on the sidelines yet. That’s when Red Bull came along. For me, this is a unique opportunity”. The Red Bull Group owns several football clubs around the world, including Leipzig, Salzburg and New York, and wants to strengthen its influence under Klopp’s leadership.
Criticisms rising in Germany
However, Klopp’s choice goes down badly with German fans, particularly those of his former clubs, Mainz and Dortmund. At recent matches, fans have expressed their discontent with banners accusing Klopp of “sell your soul”.
Faced with these criticisms, Klopp responded: “You can’t make your decision based on what reactions there will be. I love all my old clubs, but I don’t know what I could have done to make everyone happy.”. Not involved in day-to-day operations, Klopp will play an advisory role for Red Bull Group clubs.
