Jürgen Klopp had already decided to join Red Bull in 2022
Jürgen Klopp made headlines when he decided to join Red Bull as their Global Head of Football starting January 2025. This was after almost a decade at Anfield where he broke many records in the world of football.
The German manager’s contract ended at the end of the 2023/24 season. Klopp opted not to renew his contract and announced that he’d take a break from the game for a season.
Following his new role at Red Bull, reports have come in stating that the 57-year-old had decided on his future in 2022. In the year, he was still Liverpool’s manager but German outlet tz claims that Klopp had agreed to take on some role at the Austrian conglomerate that season.
Klopp met Red Bull’s late founder Dietrich Mateschitz and the latter persuaded the Liverpool legend to join the company in the future. This offer was obviously for their sporting section where they are thriving right now.
Mateschitz died weeks later after the meeting and Klopp held this secret with him for almost two years. This means the German knew all along where he’d be in 2025 without even hinting at it for almost two years.
The Stuttgart native also visited Dortmund and Mainz after his Anfield departure. These moves are also suggested to not be a coincidence following the German’s decision to join Red Bull.
Fan controversies following Jürgen Klopp’s decision
The football world was in shock when Jürgen Klopp decided to take on this role at Red Bull. No wonder fans too were eager to pass their judgement on the German’s decision.
Some sections of the Liverpool and Dortmund fans are upset with the decision. As Red Bull owns a majority stake in RB Leipzig and a minority stake in Leeds United, fans are questioning Klopp’s affiliation.
This move has been one of the most controversial in world football. The 57-year-old will aid both Leipzig and Leeds in their ambitions and this has been seen as a betrayal by the Kopites and BVB fans.
Red Bull’s Chief Motorsport Advisor, Helmut Marko had some interesting views on this move. He claimed that it was unbelievable that this had remained a secret in world football for so long.
It’s unbelievable how such a mega deal could remain secret for so long. That would never have been possible in Formula 1.
-Helmut Marko via tz
Marko didn’t explicitly state the length for which the move had remained a secret but the speculations will continue.
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