Former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp’s recent announcement to take over as head of football operations at Red Bull has sparked anger and frustration among fans of the Bundesliga club. The energy drink giant, which owns RB Leipzig and teams in Salzburg and New York, revealed the surprise appointment on Wednesday, with Klopp set to assume his new role in January.
During his seven-year tenure at Dortmund, Klopp became a beloved figure, leading the club to two Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal trophy, and guiding them to the 2013 Champions League final. However, his move to Red Bull has led some fans to feel betrayed, with the fanzine Schwatzgelb declaring that Klopp has “ruined his life’s work.” The publication criticized him for aligning with a company that embodies commercialism in football, claiming he has “torn it down with a bang.”
Klopp’s self-proclaimed moniker, “the normal one,” a nod to Jose Mourinho’s famous claim of being “the special one,” also came under fire. The fanzine lamented, “The normal one, unfortunately, is normal on all levels. Normal like everyone else in this dirty business.” They expressed their dismay that Klopp’s decision to support Red Bull has alienated a significant portion of Dortmund and German football fans, suggesting he has given them a “well-mannered middle finger.”
Despite his successful career at Liverpool, where he won multiple titles, including the Champions League and Premier League, Klopp’s decision to join Red Bull has dampened his legacy among Dortmund supporters. The 57-year-old had maintained a strong rapport with fans even after leaving for Liverpool in 2015, receiving a warm welcome at a testimonial match in September attended by 81,365 supporters at Westfalenstadion.
Klopp’s outspoken nature on social issues, such as commercialism in football and the detrimental effects of TV schedules on match timings, had further endeared him to many. He notably criticized the European Super League in 2021, despite the backing of Liverpool’s ownership for the initiative.
Dortmund fans, along with many supporters across Germany, harbor a long-standing animosity toward RB Leipzig, which they perceive as inconsistent with the country’s 50+1 rule, designed to ensure member control of clubs. Critics of the Red Bull model argue it undermines the traditional values of football, particularly with its multi-club ownership approach.
However, not all reactions to Klopp’s decision have been negative. Dortmund managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke expressed his support, stating, “It was no surprise to me because we talked about it personally.”
Klopp had previously defended the Red Bull model, asserting, “I find that Leipzig hasn’t taken anything away from traditional clubs. They’ve just gone their own way. They don’t earn more money than Dortmund or Bayern. They develop young players—the whole idea is a football idea and not a money idea.”
Ralf Rangnick, who held the same position Klopp will assume in January, commented, “It will certainly be exciting to see what Jurgen can contribute.”
As Klopp prepares for this new chapter in his career, the divide between his legacy at Dortmund and his future with Red Bull remains a topic of heated debate among football fans.
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