Jürgen Klopp has commented on his much-discussed new job at the Red Bull Group – and responded calmly to the criticism.
From January 1, 2025, Jürgen Klopp will be “Head of Global Soccer” within the Red Bull Group. With this news, the 57-year-old had surprised many a few weeks ago – and disappointed many a football fan, as Klopp has so far stood for football romanticism through his work and successes at the traditional clubs Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool FC and his behavior off the pitch.
The former BVB coach reacted calmly to criticism that Klopp will in future be working for a company that abuses football for advertising purposes and distorts competition. “I have to be honest and say that I have never been so critical of the Red Bull story,” he said in the podcast Einfach mal Luppen by brothers Toni and Felix Kroos.
Specifically, he addressed transfers that RB Leipzig had made in recent years. After all, other clubs could have signed players who had become key players for the club from Saxony, explained Klopp. Professionals like Willi Orban, Kevin Kampl and Yussuf Poulsen are now “absolute club legends”. In addition, former talents like Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté and Christopher Nkunku would also have been available to other clubs – but were ultimately guided to RB Leipzig, where they were developed and then sold. “That’s just the way it is,” said Klopp, defending the Bundesliga club’s strategy.
Nevertheless, the sometimes harsh criticism, for example from the Mainz 05 fan base, has not gone unnoticed. “I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, definitely not. And personally, I love all my ex-clubs,” said Klopp, but also added: “I don’t know exactly what I could have done to make everyone happy.”
Nevertheless, he continues to see the job at Red Bull as an exciting challenge: “It was always clear, at least it was clear to me, that I wouldn’t do nothing. And then the Red Bull story came up. So for me it’s outstanding, I have to say.”