‘I don’t hurt anybody’ – Jurgen Klopp defends controversial Red Bull decision and lifts lid on coaching return

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed criticism of his controversial appointment at Red Bull despite the fan fury he faced. Five months after ending his glittering spell at Liverpool, the German joined the energy drink giants as their Global Head of Soccer. Klopp opted to join Red Bull last year despite his past criticismGetty Klopp advises their network of clubs that includes Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls. His decision to join followed past comments in which he criticised Red Bull, who turned fifth-tier side SSV Markranstadt in Leipzig in 2009. “I know how much the Red Bull idea is criticised by traditionalists, and I’m one of them too,” he said in 2022 of the contentious model. Fans of his former club Mainz revealed a banner that read ‘Have you forgotten everything we gave you’ when they played Leipzig last year. There is a sense that Klopp has damaged his reputation, but speaking to The Athletic, he has defended his role and involvement at Red Bull. What has Jurgen Klopp said about backlash from fans? “I knew it [would come]. I’m German,” he said on the criticism. “I know what people in Germany think about the involvement of Red Bull in football. They love Red Bull. In all departments. “But in football? No. So whatever, they want to do it that way. Funnily enough, it was only in Germany where the reaction was like that. “But that’s fine — no problem. Everybody can think what they want. You just have to accept that I do what I want as long as I don’t hurt anybody. “By the way, I don’t expect people to remember what I did for a specific club. The people in Mainz in the stadium now… “They were little kids when I was there [1990 to 2001 as a player, 2001 to 2008 coach], so their parents had to tell them who I was. So that’s how it is, it is absolutely fine. Klopp has faced backlash for his off-pitch role from fans in GermanyGetty However, he defended his decision to join Red Bull and says he can’t please everyoneGetty “I don’t expect everybody to like what I do. I have to do it for the right reasons — for my right reasons. “By the way, in Liverpool, people are overly happy that I do what I do because I am not coaching another team.” When asked if he would have received a better reaction with another job, he replied: “If I went to a foreign country, to Italy or Spain, people would have said, ‘Oh my God, that’s great.’ “If I go to Bayern [Munich] or whatever, then especially [former club Borussia] Dortmund fans would have said, ‘I don’t like it!’ “I finished at Liverpool at 57. I was 100 per cent certain and sure that I will not finish working. I had a break for seven months or so. I enjoyed it — wow!” Will Klopp return to management? Mainz were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in history in 2004 under the inexperienced Klopp, who joined three years prior. Klopp has taken plenty of stick over his job decision A switch to Dortmund in 2008 was followed by stunning back-to-back Bundesliga title wins in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 campaigns. Klopp also delivered DFB-Pokal and DFV-Supercup success, as well as a runners-up medal in the Champions League. Liverpool appointed him in October 2015 and, despite a slow start, he would become one of the greatest managers in their history. Premier League and Champions League titles were joined by two League Cups, an FA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Klopp left Anfield after nine emotional years, and Liverpool look set to be the last ever club he will have ever manged. “I don’t want to work as a coach anymore,” he told The Athletic, having said he was ‘running out of energy’ when leaving Liverpool. Despite his immense success, Klopp has no plans to become a manager againGetty “That’s what I think,” he added. “But you don’t know. I’m 58. “If I started again at 65, everybody will say, ‘You said you’ll never do it again!’ Er, sorry, I thought 100 per cent [when I said it]! “That is what I think now. I don’t miss anything.”

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‘I don’t hurt anybody’ – Jurgen Klopp defends controversial Red Bull decision and lifts lid on coaching return

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed criticism of his controversial appointment at Red Bull despite the fan fury he faced.

Five months after ending his glittering spell at Liverpool, the German joined the energy drink giants as their Global Head of Soccer.

Klopp opted to join Red Bull last year despite his past criticism

Klopp advises their network of clubs that includes Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls.

His decision to join followed past comments in which he criticised Red Bull, who turned fifth-tier side SSV Markranstadt in Leipzig in 2009.

“I know how much the Red Bull idea is criticised by traditionalists, and I’m one of them too,” he said in 2022 of the contentious model.

Fans of his former club Mainz revealed a banner that read ‘Have you forgotten everything we gave you’ when they played Leipzig last year.

There is a sense that Klopp has damaged his reputation, but speaking to The Athletic, he has defended his role and involvement at Red Bull.

What has Jurgen Klopp said about backlash from fans?

“I knew it [would come]. I’m German,” he said on the criticism. “I know what people in Germany think about the involvement of Red Bull in football. They love Red Bull. In all departments.

“But in football? No. So whatever, they want to do it that way. Funnily enough, it was only in Germany where the reaction was like that.

“But that’s fine — no problem. Everybody can think what they want. You just have to accept that I do what I want as long as I don’t hurt anybody.

“By the way, I don’t expect people to remember what I did for a specific club. The people in Mainz in the stadium now…

“They were little kids when I was there [1990 to 2001 as a player, 2001 to 2008 coach], so their parents had to tell them who I was. So that’s how it is, it is absolutely fine.

Klopp has faced backlash for his off-pitch role from fans in Germany

However, he defended his decision to join Red Bull and says he can’t please everyone

“I don’t expect everybody to like what I do. I have to do it for the right reasons — for my right reasons.

“By the way, in Liverpool, people are overly happy that I do what I do because I am not coaching another team.”

When asked if he would have received a better reaction with another job, he replied: “If I went to a foreign country, to Italy or Spain, people would have said, ‘Oh my God, that’s great.’

“If I go to Bayern [Munich] or whatever, then especially [former club Borussia] Dortmund fans would have said, ‘I don’t like it!’

“I finished at Liverpool at 57. I was 100 per cent certain and sure that I will not finish working. I had a break for seven months or so. I enjoyed it — wow!”

Will Klopp return to management?

Mainz were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in history in 2004 under the inexperienced Klopp, who joined three years prior.

Klopp has taken plenty of stick over his job decision

A switch to Dortmund in 2008 was followed by stunning back-to-back Bundesliga title wins in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 campaigns.

Klopp also delivered DFB-Pokal and DFV-Supercup success, as well as a runners-up medal in the Champions League.

Liverpool appointed him in October 2015 and, despite a slow start, he would become one of the greatest managers in their history.

Premier League and Champions League titles were joined by two League Cups, an FA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Klopp left Anfield after nine emotional years, and Liverpool look set to be the last ever club he will have ever manged.

“I don’t want to work as a coach anymore,” he told The Athletic, having said he was ‘running out of energy’ when leaving Liverpool.

Despite his immense success, Klopp has no plans to become a manager again

“That’s what I think,” he added. “But you don’t know. I’m 58.

“If I started again at 65, everybody will say, ‘You said you’ll never do it again!’ Er, sorry, I thought 100 per cent [when I said it]!

“That is what I think now. I don’t miss anything.”