Jurgen Klopp’s decision to join Red Bull as head of global soccer has shocked and angered Liverpool fans, with many calling the beloved former manager a “traitor.” After leading Liverpool to remarkable success over eight years, Klopp’s abrupt departure from the club has left fans disheartened and puzzled by his choice to work for an organization heavily criticized in European football circles.
Klopp, in a recent interview on Toni Kroos’ podcast, defended his choice, saying he couldn’t live his life trying to “please everyone” and that Red Bull offered a “fantastic opportunity” he couldn’t pass up. But that reasoning hasn’t quieted fans. One Liverpool supporter wrote on social media, “Klopp left us just to join the enemy? Red Bull stands for everything he supposedly hated in football – money over loyalty!” Another echoed these sentiments, calling Klopp’s decision “heartbreaking” and “a real slap in the face for fans who believed in his loyalty.”
The backlash is fueled by Klopp’s association with Red Bull, which many in the football world see as a symbol of commercialism. Red Bull’s involvement in German football, particularly through RB Leipzig, is widely criticized, with another fan writing, “This is like joining Bayern Munich for a Dortmund fan. It’s betrayal, plain and simple.”
However, Klopp expressed that he didn’t take the role lightly, explaining that he no longer sees himself in a coaching role and that this new position allows him to contribute to the game differently. “I want to keep working,” he said. “If I had gone to Bayern, there would have been a huge outcry in Dortmund.”
Yet for many fans, Klopp’s move feels like a complete shift in values. As one disappointed fan put it, “The Klopp we knew would never have gone to Red Bull. He used to be about the passion and heart of football – now, it’s just about business.”
Whether Klopp’s decision will reshape his legacy remains to be seen, but for Liverpool fans, it’s a bitter end to a cherished era.
