Jurgen Klopp, Red Bull
© IMAGO - Jurgen Klopp joins Red Bull
When Jurgen Klopp muttered the words 'I'm running out of energy' last season, we all assumed that he would retire and enjoy his days on a yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean.
However, less than six months out of football management he agreed to join Red Bull's football franchise to act as their Global Head of Soccer.
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While Klopp is yet to formally start the role until January, he has been slated by fans around the world as a hypocrite, because the move directly contradicts most fans' former opinion of him as a 'man of the people' kind of manager.
More specifically in Germany, Klopp received backlash from Borussia Dortmund and Mainz fans were essentially siding with a direct rival, given he will be working closely with Leipzig as part of his work.
The Red Bull franchise currently owns RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls, Bragantino, Salzburg and Omiya Ardija.
His role is to work closely with the individual club executives, focusing on the direction that the clubs are heading in while assisting with recruitment.
Fans' disapproval of Klopp heightens
Banners at football games are nothing new and quite famously Klopp has been the face of some very disapproving ones from German fans.
Back in October, Mainz fans held up banners ahead of their home game against Leipzig, claiming that Klopp was 'crazy' for making the move, claiming that he had forgotten his roots in a betrayal of his former side.
At the start of November, Klopp then spoke out about the criticism he was facing, claiming that he received an 'outstanding offer' and that it was always understood that he 'would not do nothing', after he retired from football management.
However, in a new wave of discontent from the German public, when Kiel hosted Leipzig on Saturday, fans brandished Klopp and a number of others as the 'gravediggers of German football'.
The banner included pictures of several hated members of German football folklore with crosshairs over their faces.
Klopp was used in further criticism of his involvement with Red Bull, Oliver Mintzlaff - former CEO at RB Leipzig - who remains involved with the club, Martin Kind - the President of Hannover who is currently attempting to end the 50+1 rule in order to take over the club, and Dietmar Hopp - the former Hoffenheim owner who managed to circumvent the 50+1 rules because he invested in the club prior to their promotion to the Bundesliga.
For context, the 50+1 rule enables most German clubs to be fan-owned in order to ensure that the clubs are not mismanaged by venture capitalists trying to make money out of the sport.
Regardless of the continued criticism of Klopp - warranted or unwarranted as per your stance on the matter - taking on the controversial Red Bull job, the former manager is set to return to the world of football in a few weeks, and in doing so, he will have to take responsibility for the decision he has made.
On the whole, Liverpool fans are less concerned about the move and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on, but you can guarantee that this won't be the last of the negativity headed his way.
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