The moment that Jürgen Klopp announced that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023-2024 Premier League season, the speculation around his next role began in earnest.

The man himself was keen to point out that he had no immediate plans, with his initial idea being to take a break with his family.

In spite of interest from numerous areas within the game, including an offer to man the US men’s national team, the German continued on his tour of relaxation that included the likes of watch Taylor Swift live at Anfield.

Now we know what his next job will be, but what will it actually entail?

Klopp to Become Red Bull’s ‘Global Head of Soccer’

The beauty of being one of the best managers in the world is that you can essentially write your own ticket. From the moment that Jürgen Klopp announced his plan to leave Liverpool, there will have been just a handful of football clubs on the planet that didn’t at least consider the possibility of bringing the German in as their new boss.

The problem that they all had was that Klopp said that he didn’t see himself on the sidelines anymore, having given years of his life to Mainz and Borussia Dortmund before taking the manager’s role at Anfield. That was good news for Red Bull, who have been able to give him a job he’ll enjoy.

Jurgen Klopp will assume the role of Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull starting January 1, 2025 👔 pic.twitter.com/a0czJBd1Xb

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 9, 2024

The 57-year-old has been confirmed as the new ‘Global Head of Soccer‘ for the Red Bull Group, which owns four teams in different parts of the world. As well as RB Leipzig in German and Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, Red Bull also own the Brazilian team Red Bull Bragantino and the Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.

Although he won’t be involved in the day-to-day operations of any of those teams, the German will advise on the likes of the playing style of the team, the group’s overall philosophy and how to develop coaches. He will also take an over-arching look at the Red Bull Group’s transfer strategy for the teams.

How Hands-On Will the Role Be?

Whilst the announcement has not gone down well with supporters of Klopp’s former team Borussia Dortmund, with many reacting with disgust at the idea of one of their heroes working for a club that they see as the antithesis of how German football should work, the man himself is likely to be extremely sanguine about it all.

Klopp is a man who has always known his place in the world and how best to speak to people, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him winning over a good few people as the months progress. It is also worth bearing in mind that Borussia Dortmund are no great paragons of virtue, having agreed a sponsorship deal with a weapons manufacturer.

@cbssportsgolazo “When you are in the job, and you’re playing every three days, you don’t have time [to learn].” ❤️ Jurgen Klopp is joining @Red Bull USA as their “Head of Global Soccer” in 2025 🐂 #jurgenklopp #klopp #soccer #football #redbull ♬ original sound – CBS Sports Golazo

When Klopp announced that he would be leaving Liverpool, he said that he was ‘running out of energy’. It is clear that he doesn’t have what it takes to manage at the club level anymore, desiring instead an easier path to remaining involved in football.

The role that he has agreed to take on at Red Bull will offer him exactly that, doubtless jetting all across the world in order to watch matches and see what changes might need to be made at the various clubs that make up Red Bull’s footballing stable. The man himself said of his new role, “I want to see, feel and figure out what is useful for football. Developing football a little bit as well.” Hardly sounds particularly hands-on.

Is it a Step Towards a Return to Management?

The obvious conclusion of many will be that this is Jürgen Klopp laying the groundwork for a return to management. Quite whether that’s true or not remains to be seen, although it is being reported that the contract he’s signed with Red Bull, which begins on the first of January 2025, will allow him to leave if the manager of the German national team role comes up.

If it is an attempt to get back into management then it isn’t a move that makes a lot of sense. Klopp could have the pick of any role in world football, with the exception of just a few, so he doesn’t need to do work for a energy drink company as a ‘way back in’ to the sport.

There is also the fact that his new role might well involve him making some difficult decisions that he won’t revel in doing. His former assistant, Pep Lijnders, is the manager of Red Bull Salzburg and has not exactly enjoyed the finest of starts to his time there. Klopp might have to give the go-ahead to sack his former apprentice and then arrange for his replacement, so that’s an unnecessary stress to add to your life if all you really want to do is to get back into management.

Instead, it is likely that he saw this is an opportunity to keep his oar in the sport that he loves whilst also getting paid handsomely in the process. Why wouldn’t he agree to that?