Julian Nagelsmann was coach at RB Leipzig for two years. He has a clear opinion on Jürgen Klopp’s entry into Red Bull’s football empire.
Germany’s national coach Julian Nagelsmann sees “a win-win situation for both sides” in Jürgen Klopp’s move to Red Bull. After it was announced on Wednesday that Klopp will take up his new job as head of football at the beverage company on January 1, the former RB Leipzig coach reacted on Thursday at the final press conference before the Nations League game in Zenica against Bosnia-Herzegovina with the words: “I congratulate Oliver Mintzlaff on an outstanding coup and Jürgen Klopp on an outstandingly interesting job.”
“Klopp will do an outstanding job”
Mintzlaff had signed Nagelsmann in 2019 as managing director of RB Leipzig for the coaching job at the Bundesliga club and two years later gave in to his insistence on being allowed to move on to FC Bayern for a record transfer fee of over 20 million euros.
Now Mintzlaff, who has been promoted to the management of Red Bull, has succeeded in making the job of Global Head of Soccer appealing to Klopp, who was dismissed by Liverpool in the summer. “It’s a super-interesting job that Jürgen will do extremely well with a lot of life and also with his manner.”
exit clause? “I can’t imagine that”
Regarding the discussions about Klopp’s move to Red Bull, which is controversial primarily in German-speaking countries, Nagelsmann said: “Jürgen has worked in English football for a long time. It’s completely normal to have someone behind you who also finances things.” He was “pleased” about the deal, “Olli also informed me early on that it would happen. It’s a very good thing for both of them.”
Asked about the report circulated in some sections of the media that Klopp would be released from his duties as national coach in the event of his possible succession despite the five-year contract, Nagelsmann replied: “I know Olli Mintzlaff very well and I can’t imagine that the clause is in there.”