Jurgen Klopp is to become the new head of global soccer at Red Bull.
Klopp is set to start his new position on January 1, 2025. The German will oversee Red Bull’s international football network, marking his first appointment since stepping down as manager of Liverpool at the end of last season.
The 57-year-old will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of Red Bull’s clubs but will provide strategic guidance. His focus will be on supporting individual sporting directors, alongside global scouting and the development of coaches.
“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp said. “The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.
“By joining Red Bull at a global level, I want to develop, improve and support the incredible football talent that we have at our disposal. There are many ways that we can do this from using the elite knowledge and experience that Red Bull possesses to learning from other sports and other industries.
“Together we can discover what is possible. I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more.”
“…this could not excite me more.” Jürgen Klopp
The feeling is mutual💪 #GivesYouWiiings pic.twitter.com/Uxb5evphgg
— Red Bull (@redbull) October 9, 2024
Red Bull’s chief executive of corporate projects and investments, Oliver Mintzlaff, added: “We are very proud of this outstanding and certainly the strongest signing in Red Bull’s soccer history.
“Jurgen Klopp is one of the greatest and most influential figures in world soccer, with extraordinary skills and charisma.
“In his role as head of soccer, he will be a game changer for our involvement in international soccer and its continued development. We are hoping for valuable and decisive impulses in key areas to make the clubs even better, both collectively and individually.”
Red Bull have a number of clubs worldwide, which include RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls. Klopp is expected to play a key role at all of these sides. Red Bull Salzburg, meanwhile, are not part of Red Bull’s global network, but are sponsored by them.
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Klopp has been one of the most sought-after figures in football since his eight-and-a-half year tenure at Liverpool ended at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
The Athletic reported in July that Klopp rebuffed an approach from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to take over as the men’s national team head coach following the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter. Mauricio Pochettino has since been appointed.
During his time at Anfield, Klopp guided Liverpool to the Champions League in 2018-19, the Premier League in 2019-20, and the FA Cup in 2021-22. He also added two League Cups, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup to their trophy cabinet. His side also reached the Champions League final twice and were runners-up in the Europa League.
Before his success in Merseyside, Klopp led Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back Bundesliga titles and secured a domestic double by winning the DFB Pokal in 2012. He also steered Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2013.
Klopp is set to be officially unveiled in his new role at a press conference next year.
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When an emotional Klopp waved goodbye to Anfield in May, he was adamant he would be taking a full year off to recharge his batteries.
Klopp brought the curtain down on his memorable eight-and-a-half year reign at Liverpool because he was “running out of energy” after more than two decades in management.
The German coach has spent the past five months recharging his batteries at his house on the Spanish island of Mallorca, playing his beloved padel, and attending major sporting events like the European Championship in his homeland and the Paralympics in Paris.
Given his passion for football and the number of job offers he’s received, it’s little surprise that the 57-year-old has decided to cut short his sabbatical.
It’s a major coup for Red Bull to secure his services and the attraction for Klopp is clear.
As their head of global soccer he will oversee their international network of clubs, giving support and advice to sporting directors and helping to develop coaches. There will also be an input in recruitment without the pressure and strain of day-to-day management.
Klopp will be reunited with his Liverpool No 2 Pep Lijnders, who is head coach at Red Bull Salzburg. Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer, who were part of Klopp’s staff at Anfield, also work alongside Lijnders at the Austrian club.
(Bernd Weissbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images)
