Jurgen Klopp is alleged to have agreed his move to Red Bull as their new Head of Global Football as far back as 2022, at a time when he had almost two years left on his Liverpool contract.
Klopp stepped down when his Anfield deal expired at the end of last season. His job with Red Bull, which starts in January 2025, was announced this week. He has also been slated, both for the role itself, and going back into work so soon after declaring he had no energy left and needed time off.
It was initially anticipated to be a year out of football to recharge, similar to what Pep Guardiola did in 2012 after leaving Barcelona. But since he walked away from Liverpool it has been four months.
“A few months ago I said I don’t see myself on the sideline anymore and it is still the case. But I still love football and working and Red Bull gives me the perfect platform for that,” Klopp explained.
German publication TZ claims that Klopp was invited to a secret meeting in Salzburg with Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. It is said that the Austrian billionaire, who was terminally ill, was able to personally convince Klopp to join Red Bull from 2025.
Mateschitz passed away at the age of 78 only a few short weeks later. But it seemingly meant that Klopp’s future was mapped out, and without anyone but a select few knowing.
Whether confirming the claim, or simply reacting to news of it, Red Bull’s Formula One director and chief adviser Helmut Marko told TZ: “It’s unbelievable how such a mega deal could remain secret for so long. That would never have been possible in Formula 1.”
Klopp was the subject of ambitious interest from US Soccer to take charge of the United States, before the job eventually went to Mauricio Pochettino, but rejected the approach. He was also linked with the England vacancy in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s departure.
As recently as last week, Klopp insisted he wasn’t thinking about returning to work when speculation arose about becoming Germany’s next head coach. “I would be reluctant to talk about football today because there is nothing to say,” he commented.
But it seems his next move was already locked in and had been for some time.
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