In his unveiling as Red Bull’s global head of football, Jurgen Klopp explained why he chose to take on another role outside of football management.
The former Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz manager was appointed to his new role late last year and will work at Red Bull-owned clubs including RB Salzburg – where he was discovered – and RB Leipzig.
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine successful years with the club and was replaced by Arne Slott. The Reds currently top the Premier League and Champions League tables under their new management.
When asked why Klopp chose another job away from management, he replied: “Because it’s a different role. I’ve always said I love what I do, but after a thousand games and press conferences, I wanted a fresh start and a new opportunity.
“For the stage of my life, it’s the perfect step right now. Now I have a fantastic team. Mario Gomez is part of the international team. Everyone is passionate about this company. I’m absolutely happy to be doing this.
“I’m not going to coach a Red Bull team. I sit here, as far as I can guarantee it, but I’m the only person who asks me where I’ll be in five years, four years, three years – nobody i know
“I will not be the manager of the Red Bull club, I hope we create a structure where these questions cannot be asked. That would be nice.
“What I want to do is develop football – develop football for our clubs, for our players and for our talents, but also for football itself. Someone has to look after that. So yes, helping football and at the same time moment to be. Success with Red Bull in the long term is super attractive to me.”
Klopp was also asked how he managed to transform Liverpool after taking over the club in October 2015. In 2020, Klopp guided the Reds to their first league title in 30 years, 12 months after guiding them to a Cup the sixth European.
He explained: “Liverpool had their problems, building a new training ground, I was always involved, but the only thing we stopped was the games.
I was always interested in the infrastructure, the culture, I knew part of the success and I faced big losses because of the culture inside the club.”
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Jurgen Klopp defends his decision to join the Red Bull Group as head of world football after criticism from fans of his former management clubs.
The German was also questioned about three of his former players – Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk – whose current contracts expire this summer.
“I am very happy that they are doing well, I am in contact with Arne (Slot) and some players by sending messages,” replied Klopp. “There’s the 0.1 percent who think I should still be there because they’re doing so well.
“I’m watching as many games as I can because it’s such good football, probably the most balanced team in the world at the moment.
“I’m very happy that I’m not responsible at the moment to answer those questions and from my point of view, I hope that all three will last, but they didn’t tell me.
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Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol explains why Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as Red Bull’s global head of football is seen as ‘controversial’
When asked if the trio could go to a Red Bull team, Klopp offered a humorous response, saying: “Virgil, I’m sure I’d like another five years at Liverpool, then 41, 42!
“Mo, we (Red Bull) would have no chance of paying his wages. Trent? Yes, then he can learn to defend. It’s so poor, it’s really so poor.
“I’m glad I’m not answering it. I’m watching the press conferences when he had to speak to think.
“Yes, he didn’t play well against Man United, but if you make a fuss when he plays well, when he doesn’t, it would be a great plan.”
Analysis: Klopp has been rejuvenated in his new role
Jurgen Klopp at his unveiling as Red Bull’s head of world football
Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor on Salzburg:
From Red Bull mouthing the prospect of signing Liverpool’s soon-to-be-expired trio to promising the drinks are on him if Manchester City are forced to surrender their titles – “oh my god what a title,” he chided himself – Jurgen Klopp did not disappoint with his return to center stage.
Fresh from his break, he looked lean and relaxed in front of 200 media organizations from around the world attending his first press conference as Red Bull’s head of global football. Clearly, his time on the padel court has served him well. The stress of football management has vanished from his face, replaced by an exuberance for the job ahead.
His curious nature is rekindled. He has freely admitted that coaching no longer does that for him, while his new role has sparked something.
Among other things, he is excited about the chance to meet Max Verstappen. “How can Max Verstappen fully focus at that speed?” he asked rhetorically. “I’d like to know. Give me that information and I’ll try to get it in football.”
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Max Verstappen has praised Jurgen Klopp and believes his position as the new head of Global Soccer at Red Bull will be great for the organisation.
The purpose? To help people become better versions of themselves. He even threw in the line “I’d like to give people wings!”
His personality qualities, on display for the entire 90 minutes he was on stage, coupled with his experience in transforming the fortunes of Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool, seem well-suited to the role of advising their coaches that Red Bull predicted.
Furthermore, his eye for a player can only benefit from talent identification and ultimately recruitment.
His role may be somewhat different from what we’ve seen throughout his career – but today he was as normal as we’ve ever known him.
