Jurgen Klopp, now 57, expressed his hopes on Wednesday to become a “voice for the players” as he takes on a new position with Red Bull. His main goal is to address player welfare issues. This October, Red Bull announced that Klopp, previously the coach of Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, would start his role in January. He will be involved with multiple clubs under the Red Bull brand, including those in Leipzig, New York, and Salzburg.
During a podcast with former footballer Toni Kroos, Klopp called the role “fantastic,” adding that he was not overly concerned by criticism from some German fans regarding his decision.
Klopp expects his responsibilities to include championing the well-being of players. He frequently spoke out about player welfare while coaching, often criticizing the heavy match schedules and short breaks between games. “Players say there are too many games, and I agree,” he commented, suggesting that reducing matches or expanding team rosters could help but noted this would be challenging over an entire season.
Some German fans have criticized Klopp for aligning with RB Leipzig and the Red Bull multi-club model, but Klopp, now over 50, said he could handle it. He emphasized that, while he loves his former teams, he must make his own career choices without trying to satisfy everyone. “Trying to please everyone every day is a sure way to fail,” he added.
Klopp also mentioned he has no plans to return to coaching, even at the national level, saying, “I don’t want to coach anymore.” He voiced his support for Julian Nagelsmann, the current Germany coach, saying, “We would all be happy if Julian stays on for 10 years and wins several titles.”
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