Jurgen Klopp explains decision to join Red Bull after Liverpool exit
The 57-year-old has cut short his break from football.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he ‘couldn’t be more excited’ after becoming the new ‘Global Head of Soccer’ for Red Bull.
The 57-year-old has been taking a break after stepping down as Liverpool boss at the end of last season.
Klopp has been heavily linked with becoming the next head coach of Germany’s national team after Julian Nagelsmann.
However, Klopp has now reached an agreement with Red Bull over a behind-the-scenes role with the group, signing a long-term contract which starts on January 1, 2025.
Klopp will be responsible for the network of Red Bull’s football clubs, including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.
The former Liverpool manager will act as a consultant for the Red Bull clubs around issues such as playing philosophy and player and staff recruitment.
‘After almost 25 years on the sidelines, I couldn’t be more excited to be involved in a project like this,’ said Klopp.
‘The role may have changed, but my passion for football and the people who make football what it is has not. By joining Red Bull on a global level, I want to develop, enhance and support the incredible football talent that is available to us. There are many ways we can do this, leveraging Red Bull’s knowledge and experience and learning from other sports and other industries.
‘Together we can discover what is possible. I see my role first and foremost as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs, but ultimately I am part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward-looking. As I said, nothing could excite me more.’
Oliver Mintzlaff, the current CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments at Red Bull, played a key role in bringing Klopp to the company.
‘We are very proud of this outstanding and certainly the strongest signing in Red Bull’s football history,’ Mintzlaff said.
‘Jurgen Klopp is one of the greatest and most influential personalities in world football and has extraordinary skills and charisma to match.
‘For us, in his role as Head of Soccer, he is something of a game changer for our commitments in international football and their constant development. We hope to gain valuable and decisive impulses in the key areas in order to make the clubs even better overall and individually.’
Borussia Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said: ‘For me, it was no surprise because we had spoken about it personally.
‘I wish Jurgen, as always, good luck in his new job.’
Speaking earlier this month, Klopp played down suggestions that he will become Germany’s head coach before the World Cup in 2026.
‘Everyone hopes that Julian Nagelsmann will do this for much, much longer than 2026,’ Klopp said.
‘I would be reluctant to talk about football today because there is nothing to say.
‘Rudi Voller is a very nice guy. He was put in the situation where he had to talk about it.’
However, Sky Germany also reports that Klopp has a clause in his contract with Red Bull which would allow him to take up the role with Germany if it becomes available before the next World Cup.
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