oThis week, the Austrian energy drink company appointed Klopp as their head of global soccer, where he will oversee all footballing development. Red Bull owns several teams, including RB Leipzig in Germany’s Bundesliga, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, and Brazil’s Red Bull Bragantino. They also hold a minority stake in Leeds United, serving as their principal shirt sponsor.
This marks Klopp’s first position in football since stepping down as Liverpool boss in the summer, citing that the Anfield role left him “running out of energy.”
During his time at Liverpool, Klopp earned around £15 million a year, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in world football. Although he will earn less in his new position, reports from Sky Sports Germany indicate he will still make between €10 million and €12 million (£8 million to £10 million) annually. This salary will surpass that of his successor at Anfield, Arne Slot, whose deal is reportedly worth £6.5 million, and is thought to be similar to that of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Klopp’s decision to join the Red Bull project has sparked feelings of betrayal among fans and football experts in Germany. The coach became a hero at Borussia Dortmund, a club rich in tradition, while RB Leipzig is often regarded as “the most hated club in Germany,” having risen from Germany’s fifth tier after being bought and rebranded by Red Bull in 2009.
The Red Bull model has faced significant criticism, including from one of Klopp’s former players, Kevin Grosskreutz, who expressed his dismay.
“It was pretty shocking and sad. Somehow it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Grosskreutz, who made 176 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund under Klopp. “I don’t think anyone was expecting it. It’s very strange, and I can’t really comprehend it yet. It’s a shock! Nevertheless, he’s a friend of mine, and I owe him a lot. I will always be grateful to him.
“As a football fan, I think it sucks, to put it bluntly! But as a friend, you have to accept the decisions being made. When we meet, I’ll still tell him personally that I think it’s wrong for him to do something like this!”
