I Wanted To Get Fresh Start – Says Jurgen Klopp Relishing His Role At Red Bull

Jurgen Klopp, the former manager of Liverpool, stated during his unveiling as the head of global soccer at Red Bull that he will not merely serve as a symbolic figure but will actively work to enhance the organization’s value.

Klopp, who ended a successful nine-year stint at Liverpool last season and has also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, was named in his post last year but officially started this month.

“It’s pretty much what I wanted to do. I finished seven months ago at Liverpool. I did that consciously,” he told a press conference.

“A few months after that the opportunity came up. I don’t want to be a passenger or a prominent person in the room. I want to put some value on it.”

Klopp joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, the Premier League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

He also guided Dortmund to consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, secured a German Cup, and reached the Champions League final in 2013.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations but act as an advisor for the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, the United States, Brazil, Japan, and Austria while also supporting the organization’s global scouting operation.

He will also contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I always wanted to try to learn new stuff, and I felt immediately that it’s exactly what I want to do. It’s a different role.”

Klopp said he no longer wanted to work as a coach, having done it for more than 20 years and jumped at this challenge.

“I did not want to do that anymore. I wanted to get a new start and this is an opportunity. To add value. How it will look we will see. There is not one plan that works for all teams.

“We want to be the best we can be. In each department, in each club,” he said.

Red Bull owns clubs on different continents and also has a stake in the second-division club Paris FC, which Klopp visited days ago.

“I see myself as an advisor and a good advisor is part of the decision,” Klopp said.

“I am the one with the most experience (within the organization). It’s a pretty young team so we are ready to go. Improve ourselves and, by doing that, improve the people around us.”