The announcement of Jurgen Klopp becoming Red Bull‘s new head of soccer this summer took many by surprise. Klopp’s departure from Liverpool after six successful years was shocking, as was the timing of his decision to join Red Bull in a high-profile, global role. The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager will officially take up the role on January 1, 2024, with a mandate to oversee Red Bull’s soccer operations across their entire portfolio of clubs.
However, Red Bull’s chief, Oliver Mintzlaff, has revealed that the groundwork for this move began more than two years ago. Mintzlaff has confessed that his conversations with Klopp about working together started long before Klopp’s official departure from Liverpool. The talks have been ongoing, with significant momentum building over the past several months. The announcement came with its share of criticism, particularly from German football fans and media, but Mintzlaff insists that Klopp’s decision was influenced by a long-standing respect for Red Bull’s soccer philosophy.
In this article, we will explore the details of Jurgen Klopp’s secret talks with Red Bull, the nature of the role he is set to take on, and how these discussions evolved over time. We’ll also look at the reaction to Klopp’s decision to join Red Bull, and what this new chapter in his career means for both him and the soccer world at large.
A Longstanding Connection: Klopp’s First Conversations with Red Bull
In an exclusive interview with BILD, Red Bull’s chief, Oliver Mintzlaff, revealed that the initial discussions with Jurgen Klopp began over two years ago. Klopp’s admiration for the Red Bull brand, particularly its philosophy around developing young talent and its ambitious goals in football, has long been known. However, it was only in the summer of 2023, after Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool, that the talks began to take a more serious turn.
Over Two Years of Discussions
Mintzlaff explained that he first approached Klopp about the possibility of working together at Red Bull more than two years ago, long before the idea became a reality. Klopp, according to Mintzlaff, was intrigued by the Red Bull model, which focuses on youth development, sports science, and the promotion of up-and-coming talent. The idea of shaping the future of football through these elements was something that excited Klopp.
“He said, ‘I think that’s great, I think that’s impressive, not just what’s happening in football, but also the sports Red Bull is involved in, how much is being done for young talent…,'” Mintzlaff shared with BILD. “That always interested him and excited him. So we always kept in touch and I didn’t let up.”
The mutual respect between Klopp and Red Bull is evident here. Klopp had always been passionate about developing young players, as seen during his time at Dortmund, where he turned relatively unknown players into world-class talents. This focus on youth and development is a key element of Red Bull’s soccer philosophy, especially with their network of clubs such as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls. It became clear to Mintzlaff that Klopp’s vision aligned well with what Red Bull was trying to achieve in the world of football.
However, when Klopp decided to extend his stay at Liverpool, Mintzlaff admitted that he was disappointed, as that potential “door” appeared to close. Yet, the two men remained in contact, and Mintzlaff did not give up on the idea of working with Klopp.
The Shift: Klopp’s Departure from Liverpool and the Resumption of Talks
Fast forward to the summer of 2023, and Jurgen Klopp surprised the football world by announcing his departure from Liverpool. After six years of unparalleled success, including winning the Premier League, Champions League, and several domestic titles, Klopp felt it was time for a new challenge. The timing of his decision, while shocking to many, provided Red Bull with the opportunity they had been waiting for.
Reigniting the Talks: A Meeting in Liverpool
Mintzlaff admitted that when Klopp announced his decision to leave Liverpool, it was a moment of both opportunity and excitement for Red Bull. A few months after Klopp’s departure was made public, the two men met in Liverpool, and Mintzlaff once again broached the topic of working together at Red Bull.
“I met him at his place in Liverpool a few months after his announcement and began discussing the topic again,” Mintzlaff revealed. “I told him a lot of things about where I think we could use him and that it would be an exciting task for him.”
For Klopp, this proposal came at a time when he was considering his future and looking for a new challenge that would offer him the chance to have a broader impact on the global footballing landscape. Mintzlaff’s persistence paid off, as Klopp eventually agreed to take on the role.
Klopp’s Acceptance: A Decision That Took “20 Seconds”
Mintzlaff described the moment when Klopp finally gave his consent to join Red Bull as one of the easiest negotiations he has ever conducted in his 20 years in football. According to Mintzlaff, when Klopp gave the green light, the discussion on finances was minimal.
“Not because we offered him an unbelievable financial package, on the contrary. We spoke about the financial side for 20 seconds,” Mintzlaff said, laughing. “When he said ‘yes,’ it was one of the easiest negotiations I’ve ever had.”
The speed with which Klopp agreed to the position suggests that the role was one he had long been interested in and was motivated by the opportunity to work within Red Bull’s ambitious framework. Mintzlaff’s ability to align the vision of Red Bull with Klopp’s aspirations was key to making this partnership a reality.
The Role: Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer
Jurgen Klopp’s new role as Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer is a significant one, involving responsibility for the soccer operations across the Red Bull network, including clubs like RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls. This role will likely allow Klopp to influence a wide range of areas, from youth development to team strategy, and from scouting to the global growth of the Red Bull brand in football.
A Vision for Youth Development and Global Impact
One of Klopp’s primary motivations for joining Red Bull appears to be their shared commitment to youth development. Red Bull has become known for its innovative approach to developing young players, with a heavy focus on scouting, coaching, and performance analysis. Klopp’s experience in nurturing young talent, as seen at both Dortmund and Liverpool, is perfectly aligned with Red Bull’s objectives.
Additionally, the opportunity to shape the future of football globally, using Red Bull’s significant financial and technological resources, makes this a tantalizing prospect for Klopp. His role will likely extend beyond just managing teams, as he will have a hand in shaping the entire footballing philosophy of the Red Bull group, influencing everything from club recruitment to academy development.
The Criticism: Klopp’s Move to Red Bull
Despite the excitement surrounding Klopp’s new role, his decision to join Red Bull has not been without controversy. In Germany, Red Bull’s football operations have often faced criticism due to their perceived lack of tradition and the brand’s aggressive approach to building clubs. Some German fans view Red Bull’s ownership of clubs like RB Leipzig as a threat to the traditional football pyramid.
Klopp, a man who built his reputation on working with established clubs and building them into successful units, has faced backlash from supporters who feel he is abandoning his roots for commercial interests. The fact that his announcement came soon after his departure from Liverpool only heightened these concerns, with some questioning the timing and motivations behind the move.
However, Klopp has always been known for his bold decisions, and his career moves have rarely been conventional. He may feel that his move to Red Bull is the next logical step in his career, offering him the chance to influence the broader landscape of football in a way that he never could as a club manager alone.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in Klopp’s Career
Jurgen Klopp’s move to Red Bull as Global Head of Soccer marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career. The two-year journey from initial talks to final agreement reveals the deep respect and alignment between Klopp and Red Bull’s vision for football. Klopp’s new role will allow him to shape the future of the game on a global scale, using Red Bull’s resources to foster young talent and develop a winning footballing philosophy across the brand’s clubs.
While the move has drawn some criticism, particularly in Germany, Klopp’s decision to take on this new challenge is an indication of his continued passion for the game and his desire to leave a lasting legacy beyond club management. As Klopp prepares to take on this ambitious role, football fans around the world will be watching closely to see how he impacts the global football scene with Red Bull.
