Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has been named the global head of football for Red Bull, a role he will take charge of starting from January 1, 2025.
The 57-year-old German will oversee the football division of the energy drink brand, which owns several clubs, namely RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer, and Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil. Earlier this year, Red Bull also acquired a minority stake in Championship club Leeds United and became its front-of-shirt sponsor.
Although Klopp will not manage daily operations, he will provide guidance on team philosophy, transfer strategies, and coaching development.
“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.” said the man who reinvigorated Liverpool.
Klopp won eight trophies during his nine years at Liverpool, including both the Premier League and the Champions League, before leaving at the end of last season.
He started his managerial journey at Mainz in 2001, then moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2008, where he won two Bundesliga titles and reached the Champions League final in 2013. After resigning in May 2015 for a sabbatical, he returned to management to replace Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool in October of the same year.
Red Bull has invested in various sports, including ice hockey, extreme sports, motorsports, and has two teams in Formula 1, with Red Bull Racing currently holding both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
Red Bull’s CEO of corporate projects and investments. Oliver Mintzlaff said “Jurgen Klopp is one of the greatest and most influential figures in world soccer, with extraordinary skills and charisma. In his role as head of football, he will be a game-changer for our involvement in international soccer and its continued development.”
