Jurgen Klopp addresses backlash over accepting controversial new Red Bull role

Jurgen Klopp has addressed the criticism from his former clubs and defended his decision to join Red Bull football in a new role.

The former Liverpool boss left the Premier League behind this summer but already has a new gig lined up as Red Bull’s global head of soccer.

His new role, starting on January 1, will see the German responsible for Red Bull’s network of football clubs, including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls, as well as acting as a consultant on issues such as playing philosophy and player and staff recruitment.

However, Klopp’s new job title has not pleased everyone, with many in German football critical of the company’s multi-club ownership model as well as their use of loopholes to get around the 50+1 fan ownership rules.

Klopp’s former club Mainz unfurled banners criticising the move, while one of his former Dortmund players, Kevin Grosskreutz, also hit out at the decision.

Addressing the has the criticism he has received, Klopp admitted it would have been difficult to make everyone happy regardless of what he did next.

‘I certainly didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes,’ he told Einfach mal Luppen, a podcast hosted by Toni Kroos and his brother, Felix.

‘And I personally love all my former clubs. I don’t know exactly what I could have done so that everyone would have been happy.

‘It was always clear, well, it was clear to me, that I wasn’t going to do nothing at all and that’s when the Red Bull story came up.

‘So for me it’s outstanding I have to be honest. It has to be said that I have never been so critical of the Red Bull story.’

Expanding on what exactly his role would entail, Klopp added: ‘Basically, I’m a consultant. Someone who can hopefully bring calm in a wide variety of situations and assess things correctly in other situations and want to work with the coaches.

‘I just want to support, not talk into it, because I also know how stupid that is. Instead, I want to pass on my experience and stay in the area in which I know best.’

The 57-year-old admitted he expected pushback from some within German football but reiterated that he was happy with the decision he made.

‘It was clear that it would be perceived differently in Germany than abroad.’ Klopp said. ‘The German football differs from other leagues. You can’t make your decisions dependent on other reactions if you’re at peace with them.”

‘I’m over 50 years old. If I couldn’t deal with it today, it would be a bit stupid. But I take the right to say that it doesn’t have much relevance for me.’

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