Jurgen Klopp, the iconic German football manager revered for his tenures at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, is facing backlash in his home country following his recent appointment as head of global soccer at Red Bull. The move has sparked outrage, particularly among Borussia Dortmund supporters, who view his decision to join an organization long criticized for its commercial approach to football as a betrayal of the values he once championed.
Starting in January 2025, Klopp will oversee all football operations within the Red Bull group, which includes clubs like RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls. However, this new role has proved controversial due to Red Bull’s history in German football, especially their ownership of RB Leipzig, a club viewed by many traditional football fans as a symbol of commercialism that undermines the sport’s grassroots values.
Red Bull’s foray into football began in 2009 when the company took over fifth-division German club SSV Markranstädt, rebranding it as RB Leipzig. Although officially called “RasenBallsport Leipzig” to adhere to German Football Association (DFB) rules that prohibit team names from featuring corporate sponsors, it’s clear that the club’s rapid rise to the Bundesliga was financed by the energy drinks giant. Critics accuse Leipzig of violating the spirit of the ’50+1′ rule, which is designed to ensure that clubs are primarily owned by their members — meaning fans. Leipzig, with only 17 voting members mostly connected to Red Bull, has long been accused of exploiting this system.
RB Leipzig’s success has caused outrage among traditional German football fans, particularly supporters of Borussia Dortmund, who pride themselves on their club’s rich history and fan-driven ownership model. Dortmund and Leipzig have frequently clashed, both on and off the field, with tensions reaching a boiling point in 2017 when 28 Dortmund fans were arrested for throwing cans and stones at Leipzig supporters.
Klopp’s decision to join Red Bull has left many fans in disbelief. During his time at Dortmund, where he managed from 2008 to 2015, Klopp was known for his passionate advocacy of football tradition and fan culture. He was famously critical of the commercialization of the game and expressed dismay at the rise of clubs like Leipzig. In a 2017 interview, he described himself as a “football romantic,” noting his love for traditional clubs and their deep ties to their communities.
That very public stance is why his recent move to Red Bull has riled many in the football world. German newspaper *Bild* described the situation as a major PR coup for Red Bull but a disappointment for Dortmund supporters. Christian Falk, *Bild*’s head of football, commented on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast, saying: “There is a big discussion in Germany at the moment about ‘has he sold his soul?'”
Falk added that Klopp had hesitated before making the decision, uncertain if this was the right step for him after leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season. “He won’t have to work so hard at Red Bull. He won’t have to watch football every day. But the controversy is there — particularly for Dortmund fans, who see this as a betrayal.”
Dortmund fans have expressed their dismay on social media, with some accusing Klopp of “selling out” and abandoning the ideals he once stood for. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “How much can one squander their reputation within a second?” Another added, “It’s finally time for Dortmund to close the Klopp era emotionally. No more nostalgic moaning that hinders the current sporting process.”
Others have ridiculed Klopp’s previous statement when he announced his departure from Liverpool, claiming he had “run out of energy.” Some critics sarcastically noted that with Red Bull’s sponsorship, “he won’t run out of energy anymore with enough Red Bull drinks.”
However, not everyone in Dortmund is outraged. Hans-Joachim Watzke, the club’s long-time chief executive and a close friend of Klopp, offered a more diplomatic response. “I wish Jurgen, as always, the best of luck in his new job. It wasn’t a surprise to me, because we had personally talked about it,” Watzke said. Despite the friendship, Watzke has been a vocal critic of Leipzig and the Red Bull model.
While Klopp’s move to Red Bull has raised eyebrows, some see it as a temporary stop. Former Bayern Munich and Germany captain Lothar Matthäus suggested that Klopp might return to the coaching bench after his tenure at Red Bull. “I believe Red Bull thinks very big — Jurgen Klopp is very big. It fits together,” Matthäus said, adding, “Let’s hope that he will perhaps return to coaching at some point in the coming years.”
Many German football fans had hoped Klopp would eventually become the manager of the national team, particularly after the 2026 World Cup when current manager Julian Nagelsmann may return to club football. Reports suggest Klopp has a clause in his Red Bull contract allowing him to exit if the German national team comes calling.
For now, Klopp’s move to Red Bull marks a significant shift in his career. After nearly a decade at the helm of Liverpool, where he achieved enormous success, Klopp will now step into an executive role overseeing a network of clubs that have been among the most polarizing in global football. As Klopp enters this new chapter, the backlash from Dortmund fans will likely continue to simmer, but his legacy in German and European football remains intact. Whether Klopp will remain a boardroom figure or return to the touchline in the future remains to be seen.
