Jurgen Klopp's agent has revealed that the former Liverpool manager's dealings with Red Bull during his time at Anfield played a significant role in his decision to join the global sports company. Klopp, who left his position as Reds boss at the end of last season, is set to become Red Bull's Head of Global Football from next year.
The move has sparked controversy, particularly among fans of his old club, Borussia Dortmund. Back in 2009, Red Bull stirred up a storm when it took over fifth-division SSV Markranstadt, transforming it into RB Leipzig and guiding it to the Champions League.
Klopp's decision to join Red Bull has drawn criticism from both the media and fan groups in Germany. However, Marc Kosicke disclosed that they were prepared for the backlash.
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Speaking on the Abendblatt podcast, he said: "We always knew that there would be a part of people who would no longer like you. But as he always says: If you try to please everyone every day, you will fail every day.
"He has to find the right job for himself after 25 years on the sidelines. And this somewhat higher-level work on a global level in a sports environment that offers so many opportunities is simply exciting. And that's why we decided that the consequences are definitely worth bearing.
"Jurgen has always spoken positively about Red Bull football. He simply appreciates the work that is done there, because he also transferred some players from Salzburg and Leipzig to Liverpool, who always fit perfectly into his game system."
Over the years, Klopp brought in Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate, and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig, while Takumi Minamino joined from Red Bull Salzburg. Sadio Mane had caught Klopp's eye during his time with the Austrian club before joining Southampton.
Addressing Klopp's future, Kosicke said, "Jurgen has no desire at all to be a coach at the moment," yet he didn't discard the prospect of Klopp taking over the Germany national team one day, saying "Life is dynamic. And if it were to come to that (the Germany role), that would certainly be another aspect that I wouldn't turn down."