Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp is set to join the Red Bull group and F1 star Max Verstappen has responded to the appointment
F1 ace Max Verstappen has shared his thoughts on Liverpool icon Jurgen Klopp’s recent move to the Red Bull sports empire. It comes after Klopp was revealed as the new global soccer head for Red Bull, and is set to embark on his new role in 2025.
“I knew already for quite a long time that they were talking and it was close to being signed,” said Verstappen during a chat with Sky Sports. “I think it’s great. Red Bull is investing a lot also in football with the teams they have and there is a lot of talent that has come through already.”
He continued, enthusing about the appointment: “With someone like Jurgen in charge from the top, he has a lot of experience, and he has managed a lot of great clubs. It’s great for the whole organization.”
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Meanwhile, Klopp, sharing his own take on the appointment added via Instagram: “A few months ago, I said I don’t see myself on the sidelines anymore, and that is still the case,” when addressing his career shift. “But I still love football, I still love working, and Red Bull gives me the perfect platform for that.”
Nonetheless, Klopp’s decision to link up with Red Bull has not been universally welcomed. The move showcases a stark turn given his previous criticisms of the multi-club modela concept which his prior team Borussia Dortmund has notably rebuked, specifically regarding RB Leipzig’s approach, which has skirted some Bundesliga regulations and sparked controversy, reports Liverpool.com.
Speaking to the BBC, German football expert Seb Stafford-Bloor shared his perspective when the move was made public earlier in the month: “People have talked about him ruining his legacy,” adding that “As some people have said, he sort of reframed who he is in relation to the club in terms of what he means to people.”
Stafford-Bloor continued, “For Klopp, who for so long was a symbol of [football authenticity], he had kind of an unvarnished appeal. He was very much in step with fan sentiments when he first moved to Dortmund. For instance, he was proactive in meeting with supporters and talking to them about what was important for their club.”
Reflecting on Klopp’s decision he remarked, “So, for him to cross that divide and move to the other side of the table, so to speak, is very jarring. Klopp is this transcendent personality who everybody has a little bit of grasp on, who everybody feels is sort of the acceptable face of football, whereas Leipzig are very much the dark heart and that goes to the Red Bull network as a whole.”
