Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp unveiled as Red Bull’s global football boss and explains why he left football management | Football news
At his unveiling as Red Bull’s global head of football, Jurgen Klopp explained why he decided to take on another role outside of football management.
The former Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz boss was appointed to his new role late last year and will work at Red Bull-owned clubs including RB Salzburg – where his introduction took place – and RB Leipzig.
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine successful years at the club, and was replaced by Arne Slot. The Reds are currently top of the Premier League and Champions League tables under their new boss.
When asked why Klopp chose a different 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 new start and a new opportunity.
“For the stage of my life, it is now the perfect step. Now I have a fantastic team. Mario Gomez is part of the international team. Everyone is passionate about this company. I am absolutely happy to be doing this.
“I will not be the coach of the Red Bull team. I am sitting here, as much as I can give a guarantee, but I am the only person who should be asked where I will be in five years, four years, three years – nobody knows.
“I’m not going to be the Red Bull club manager, I hope we create a structure where those questions can’t be asked. That would be cool.
“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 take care of that. So yes, helping football and at the same time being successful in the long term with Red Bullom is super attractive to me.”
Klopp was also asked how he managed to transform Liverpool after taking over the club in October 2015. Klopp guided the Reds to their first top-flight title in 30 years in 2020, 12 months after guiding them to their sixth European Cup.
He explained: “Liverpool had 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 dealt with big defeats because of the culture within the club.
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 so happy that they are doing well, I am in contact with Arne [Slot] and some players send messages,” Klopp replied. “The 0.1 percent think I should still be there because they’re doing so well.
“I watch as many games as possible because it’s such good football, maybe the best balanced team in the world right now.
“I’m so happy that I’m not in charge of answering these questions right now and from my point of view, I’m hoping that all three will be extended, but they haven’t told me.
When asked if the trio could go to the Red Bull team, Klopp humorously replied: “Virgil, I’m sure I’d like five more years at Liverpool after 41, 42!
“Mo, we [Red Bull] he would have no chance of paying his salary. Trent? Yes, then he can learn to defend. It’s so poor, it really is so poor.
“I’m happy not to answer. I watch the press conferences when he had to talk about thinking.
“Yes, he didn’t play well against Man United, but if you make a fuss when he plays well, when he doesn’t, that would be a great planet.”
Analysis: Klopp has rejuvenated himself in his new role
Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor in Salzburg:
From talking up the prospect of Red Bull signing Liverpool’s soon-to-be-out-of-contract trio to promising drinks on his bill if Manchester City are forced to surrender their titles – “oh my god, what a title,” he chided himself – Jurgen Klopp did not disappoint on his return to center stage.
Energized after the break, he looked lean and relaxed in front of 200 media organizations from around the world who attended his first press conference as Red Bull’s head of global football. Apparently, the time spent on the padel court has served him well. The stress of football management disappeared from his face and was replaced by enthusiasm for the job ahead.
His curious nature reignited. He freely admitted that the coaching job no longer does that for him, but that the new role has started something.
The opportunity to meet Max Verstappen, among others, excites him. “How can Max Verstappen be fully focused at that speed?” he asked rhetorically. “I would like to know. Give me that information and I will try to transfer it to football.”
Goal? To help people become better versions of themselves. He even threw in “I’d like to give wings to people!”
His personal qualities, which were on display for the full 90 minutes he was on stage, combined with his experience in transforming the fortunes of Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool, look good for the role of mentor to their coaches envisioned by Red Bull.
On top of that, his eye for a player can only benefit talent identification and ultimately recruiting.
His role may be slightly different from what we’ve seen throughout his career – but today he was as normal as we’ve ever known him.
