Jurgen Klopp made controversial job choice after secret call with FSG chief

Jurgen Klopp caused controversy when he took up a role with Red Bull last year, and his agent has now revealed how Liverpool's owners helped convince him to take the job

Jurgen Klopp’s agent has revealed FSG president Mike Gordon helped convince the former Liverpool manager to take up a role with Red Bull.

Klopp has been working as the energy drinks company’s head of global soccer since January 2025, having left Anfield the previous summer. Although he has been linked with a return to management, with Real Madrid having been linked with his services after firing Xabi Alonso, the German has played down the prospect of a return to the dugout.

His move away from management has proved controversial though, especially back in his home country, where even fans of his former clubs have turned against the 58-year-old.

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Klopp’s decision to join Red Bull’s setup has not gone down well with supporters of Borussia Dortmund or Mainz, as well as a lot of other fans in the Bundesliga, due to the company’s involvement in RB Leipzig.

The club, officially named “Rasenballsport Leipzig” due to rules against sponsors in team’s names in Germany, is seen to be artificially defying the Bundesliga’s 50+1 rule, which is designed to guarantee fan ownership.

Klopp defended his decision to join the organization last year, saying: "I left Germany around 10 years ago and Leipzig wasn't in the Bundesliga when I left. I never really had games against Leipzig.

"I really felt they deserve it. I think it is worth giving to fans - in Leipzig, Salzburg, New York, Japan, Brazil. They deserve improvement, support. Football can give you a positive feeling and an identification for a city or region.

"I am happy to be proud of it. A doctor doesn't refuse to treat someone if they come from a specific region. I love helping wherever I can."

His long-time agent has now opened up on how he and Klopp came to the decision for him to join Red Bull. Marc Kosicke admitted in an interview with Transfermarkt that he had doubts over the way the move would be perceived by fans, and how a call with Liverpool’s owners helped make their minds up.

“Of course, we discussed the topic beforehand. I said to Jurgen: ‘You do realize that your popularity is likely to drop by 50 per cent, right?’” Kosicke said.

“I called his former owner, Mike Gordon of the Fenway Sports Group, and asked for his opinion. He thought Red Bull was fantastic and that it would be a perfect fit for Jurgen. Mike Gordon explained:

“There are eight billion people in the world, 80 million of them in Germany – including 30 million football fanatics, with perhaps one million fans from Dortmund and Mainz. Of those, a few hundred thousand are real hardcore fans and ultras. How many is that compared to the eight billion?

“Everywhere else in the world, Red Bull is viewed exclusively positively. That's why we shouldn't worry about it. That's how Jurgen and I saw it too. He said he stood behind it. Why should it diminish what he had achieved in Dortmund and Mainz? And if people saw it differently, that was their right.”

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