Jurgen Klopp has explained why he chose to take on a different role outside of football management at his inauguration as Red Bull’s global head of football.
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 unveiled, and RB Leipzig. the
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine successful years at the club and was replaced by Arne Slott. The Reds currently top the Premier League and Champions League table under their new manager.
When asked why Klopp chose another job away from management, he replied: new opportunity.
“It’s a perfect move for my stage of life. Now I have a fantastic team. Everyone is passionate about this company.
“I will not be the coach of the Red Bull team. I am sitting here as much as I can guarantee, but I am the only person who is asked where I will be in five years, four years, no one knows.
“I won’t be a Red Bull club manager, I hope we create a structure where these questions can’t be asked. That would be great.
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Jurgen Klopp has reflected on his incredible career at Liverpool following an emotional final game in charge of the club.
“What I want to do is to develop football, to develop football for our clubs, for our players and for football itself. So, yes, help football at the same time To be successful with Red Bull in the long term is very attractive to me.”
Klopp also questioned how he managed to transform Liverpool after taking charge of the club in October 2015. In 2020, Klopp guided the Reds to their first top-flight title in 30 years, 12 months after lifting their sixth European Cup.
He explained. “Liverpool had their problems building a new stadium, I was always involved, but the only thing we cut was the matches.
“I was always interested in the infrastructure, the culture, I knew part of the success and I was dealing with big defeats because of the culture of the club.”
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Jurgen Klopp has defended his decision to join the Red Bull Group as world football boss after criticism from fans of his former boss’s 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’m so happy they’re doing well, I’m in touch with Arne (Slott) and some of the players,” Klopp replied that they do so well.
“I watch as many games as I can because it’s such good football, maybe the best balanced team in the world at the moment.
“I’m so glad I’m not responsible for answering these questions at this time, and from my perspective, I hope all three are being extended, but I haven’t been told.
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Sky Sports News Chief Correspondent Kave Solhekol explains why Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as global head of football at Red Bull is “controversial”.
When asked if the trio could go to the Red Bull team, Klopp gave a humorous answer, saying: “Virgil, I’m sure I’d like another five years at Liverpool, then 41, 42.
“Mo, we (Red Bull) won’t have a chance to pay his salary. Yeah, so he can learn to defend himself. It’s really that poor.
“I’m glad I don’t answer, I watch the press conferences when he should have talked about thinking.
“Yes, he didn’t play well against Manchester United, but if you make noise when he’s playing well, when he’s not playing well, that would be a great planet.”
Analysis: Klopp is rejuvenated in a new role
Jurgen Klopp at the opening ceremony as Red Bull’s head of global football
Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor in Salzburg.
From the prospect of a Red Bull signing for Liverpool soon to be the trio to the promise that the drinks are on him if Manchester City are forced to surrender their titles; he hurt 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 attending his first press conference as Red Bull’s world football boss. Clearly, his time on the padel court has served him well. The stress of football management vanished from his face, replaced by eagerness for the work ahead.
His inquisitive nature reignited, he freely admitted that coaching no longer did it for him, while his new role sparked something.
The possibility of meeting with Max Verstappen, among others, excites him. “How can Max Verstappen be fully focused on that speed?” he asked rhetorically. “I’d like to know. Give me that information and I’ll try to put it into football.”
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Max Verstappen has praised Jurgen Klopp and believes Red Bull’s new head of global football will be great for the organisation.
The purpose: Helping people become better versions of themselves. He even threw in the line “I’d like to give people wings.”
His personal qualities, on display throughout the 90 minutes he was on stage as he attempted to turn around the fortunes of Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool, seem well-suited to the role of mentoring their coaches at Red Bull.
Additionally, his eye for a player can only help spot and ultimately recruit talent.
His role may be a little different from what we’ve seen him throughout his career, but today he was as normal as we’ve ever known him.
