‘Lost all respect’ – Jurgen Klopp disowned by Borussia Dortmund fans after taking new Red Bull job

Jürgen Klopp – Jurgen Klopp disowned by Dortmund fans after landing new role as Red Bull chief
Jürgen Klopp will advise all Red Bull teams, which include RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, Salzburg in Austria and New York Red Bulls - EPA/Bernd von Jutrczenka

Jürgen Klopp has been disowned by Borussia Dortmund fans after agreeing to return to football as global head of soccer at the Red Bull empire.

Klopp, who stunned the game in January when he announced he was leaving Liverpool citing exhaustion, had been an idol at Dortmund after leading them to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final before moving to Anfield.

But his decision to work for one of the most unpopular ownership groups in Germany has sickened supporters who have boycotted trips to the likes of RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg in protest over the multi-club group.

‘Lost all respect for Klopp’

One of those behind the boycotts, Jan-Henrik Gruszecki, reposted a comment on X from a fellow Dortmund fan which read: “This means that the Klopp era is finally over in the minds of BVB.”

Another user wrote: “Lost all respect for Klopp,” in a post featuring three vomiting emojis.

One mocked Klopp’s description of himself as the “normal one” when he was asked at his Liverpool unveiling about José Mourinho’s famous “Special One” quote.

A fourth posted: “You made yourself a dog, Jürgen”, while another wrote: “You’re nobody in my book anymore.”

Confirming he would begin his new role on Jan 1, Klopp 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.

“By joining Red Bull at a global level, I want to develop, improve and support the incredible football talent that we have at our disposal. There are many ways that we can do this front using the elite knowledge and experience that Red Bull possesses to learning from other sports and other industries.

“Together we can discover what is possible. I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately, I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more.”

According to Bild, Klopp’s contract contains an exit option allowing him to leave to become Germany manager in the future.

Julian Nagelsmann is the current Germany coach, with his contract expiring after the next World Cup.

Klopp, 57, will advise all Red Bull teams, which include RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, as well as Salzburg in Austria and New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.

‘Klopp is strongest signing in Red Bull’s soccer history’

Oliver Mintzlaff, the company’s chief executive of corporate projects and investments, said: “We are very proud of this outstanding and certainly the strongest signing in Red Bull’s soccer history.

“Jürgen Klopp is one of the greatest and most influential figures in world soccer, with extraordinary skills and charisma. In his role as head of soccer, he will be a game-changer for our involvement in international soccer and its continued development.

“We are hoping for valuable and decisive impulses in key areas to make the clubs even better, both collectively and individually.”

Klopp won the Champions League, ended Liverpool’s 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England, and lifted every other major trophy in the game during a glittering spell at Anfield lasting almost nine years.

After proclaiming he had no more energy to carry on as manager last season, he also said he did not want to take a coaching role for the foreseeable future.

“I do know definitely I will never manage a different club in England than Liverpool. It is impossible,” Klopp said at the time of his Anfield exit.

“I will find something else to do. But I will not manage a club or country for at least a year.”

RB Leipzig is one of the most unpopular clubs in Germany, where investment in teams by commercial entities runs counter to its football culture.

When Leipzig were promoted to the Bundesliga in 2016, Dortmund supporters announced they would boycott attending their own team’s trip to the city in protest at their opponents’ ownership structure.

They did the same ahead of a Europa League trip to RB Salzburg the following season.