Jurgen Klopp ‘betrays’ Liverpool promise to succeed Newcastle United sporting director
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been announced as the head of Red Bull’s global football operations.
Just five months after leaving Anfield, the German has taken up a new role to oversee their worldwide portfolio. Red Bull own five clubs across Europe and the Americas, including Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig and the New York Red Bulls.
They also bought a minority stake in Leeds United earlier this year - a possible conflict of interest with Klopp’s Liverpool promise. The 57-year-old vowed to never manage another English club following his departure in May.
Klopp’s new role sees him take up a position similar to Newcastle United sporting Director Paul Mitchell’s former job. The Toon chief served as technical director for Red Bull’s sporting division before joining Monaco in 2020.
Speaking after his appointment, Klopp relished his return to football in a different capacity. He said: "After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this. The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not."
Oliver Mintzlaff, the company's CEO of corporate projects and investments, also welcomed his arrival. It remains unclear whether Klopp - linked with the vacant England job in recent weeks - has hung up his managerial hat for good.
"Jurgen Klopp is one of the greatest and most influential figures in world soccer with extraordinary skills and charisma," he added. "In his role as head of soccer, he will be a game-changer for our involvement in international soccer and its continued development."