Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp is loving life after retiring from the high stakes coaching role. Having won it all in club football, Klopp is currently at a more relaxed role at Red Bull. His time
as the Gaffer while thrilling is not one he looks to return to anytime soon.
Klopp spoke to CBS Sports to give the updates in his life after walking away from Liverpool FC at the end of the 2023/24 season. Personal time with his family and giving ample rest to his body have been the priority per Klopp. Addressing rumors about his return to the coaching job, Klopp was least enthusiastic about any return, neither at the club nor the country level. To understand his perspective better, here are some details that explain his situation better.
The pressures of the game
Klopp recalled pre-game moments where anxiety was often the bigger concern to his body than the opposition.
“I don’t miss sitting in the bus or coach on the way to the game and feeling closing [in] the chest,” he said. “You think, ‘I know it’s only football,’ but it’s just my body doesn’t understand it. The pressure is massive, massive, massive and even though I’m not completely done and I know there are more important things in life and it’s still big because you want to do good, you want to do it right, you want to do it for the people, you want to win, whatever. You just want to enjoy what you are doing,” said Klopp.
Klopp is right regarding the pressures involved as the coach of an elite football club. Managers have to deal with tough competition, expectations of fans and club bosses along with the egos of the athletes. Klopp explained the situation from the perspective of a coach.
“This time last year or whenever it was, I would be in [Crystal] Palace and I would have to explain why we lost. I was so happy! I was so happy I didn’t have to do that,” Klopp noted. “That’s why I’m walking through Central Park this afternoon and thinking, ‘Yes! Perfect decision.'”
While, the sabbatical was rejuvenating, Klopp did not want to stay idle and set his eyes on work that was sufficiently stimulating, but without the daily pressures of a football manager. It was then that Red Bull came forward with a great offer for the German coach.
Visionary role at Red Bull
After having moved on from the coaching role and given himself a well deserved break, JK’s next step lay in a novel role in world football. Red Bull, the energy drink conglomerate that is known to dabble in sports sought out Klopp’s services. RB were looking for a global sporting manager to put it in the simplest terms. Steering RB’s vision for the coming years and making the bigger picture moves. Selecting managers and the influential staff are reported to part of this role. Therefore, with the stakes being long-term, Klopp is enjoying the pressure-off situation unlike his previous job. Paired with former Bayern striker and fellow German Mario Gomez, Klopp’s role at RB lies in developing talent and teams.
“This is a role at Red Bull that has never existed in this form before, within a truly attractive club network,” Gomez told CBS Sports. “Here, he has the chance to shape something new, to drive development forward in a decisive way, and to leave his mark. His approach fits perfectly with Red Bull, because throughout his coaching career, he has always developed teams and clubs. What impresses me most: he wants to keep learning every single day. And with this mindset, he inspires everyone else to do the same — to learn.”
No plans to coach Germany
Julian Nagelsmann isn’t having the sweetest time as Germany’s coach. With a poor run of results, there have been rumors and calls for a complete rebuild of the national team. Jurgen Klopp is one of the names that is thrown around while discussing potential candidates to fit such a role. However, Klopp is least inclined for the post of the national coach.
“The job, in my understanding, is an intense job, being the national coach,” Klopp said. “People say, oh, he’s only working every three and four weeks and whatever and he brings the players together and they’re all good players so I don’t know. I never really thought about it. I am the biggest supporter of Julian Nagelsmann. I am. I hope Germany will become world champions and he signs another few years”
With his current role being at his terms and no real incentive to draw the German back to the helm, it is unlikely that either the DfB or any club can look to Jurgen Klopp for a coaching solution.
