JAKARTA - Jurgen Klopp chose to accept a job as Head of Global Football Red Bull after leaving Liverpool in the middle of this year.
He went active in January 2025 to head all club management under Red Bull, such as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, two clubs in Brazil, and a third-tier Japanese team.
However, it turned out that his decision to go to Red Bull actually drew strong reactions from many people, especially supporters in Germany.
In response to this, Klopp emphasized that his decision did not want to hurt anyone.
"I don't want to offend anyone, of course not. Personally I love all my former club."
"I really don't know what I can really do to make everyone happy," Klopp said in a podcast with former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Germany time.
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Red Bull, especially RB Leipzig, is hated by many German football fans. The partnering beverage company is considered a company that is hated for trying to buy instant success through the club that just stood in 2009.
Fans at former Klopp club, such as Borussia Dortmund, have criticized the move.
Then, the Mainz fans raised a banner this month to express their disappointment and question whether Klopp was crazy.
Klopp did not expect that choosing Red Bull made him hated by many people. In fact, at first he never looked at Red Bull's involvement in football as critical.
"I'm 57 years old. So I can still work for a few more years. However, I don't really see myself on the sidelines (as a coach) for now."
"However, it is always clear that I will not do anything at all. Then the story with Red Bull emerged and for me it was extraordinary," said Klopp.
Klopp actually has positive intentions to join Red Bull. He saw his role, especially as a "assignment", could help coaches at Red Bull-backed clubs achieve success.
"I always feel that coaches are very often lonely people at the club," he said.
If it turns out that the current situation is not good for Klopp, it further confirms that the clause to leave whenever from Red Bull will be activated more quickly.
As is known, Klopp has a clause that he can leave Red Bull at any time if the German national team calls him the head coach.
Meanwhile, Klopp previously said that he planned to take a long break after leaving Liverpool.
He has handled the Reds for nine years and won various trophies.
During his coaching career, Klopp actually did not handle the club much. Before going to Anfield, the 57-year-old only led Mainz and Dortmund.
Klopp has many memories with Mainz. He spent 18 years there as a player (1990-2001) and coach (2001-2008).
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