Jurgen Klopp has become Red Bull’s new head of global soccer. AFP Photo

Paul Kennedy

Well that didn’t last very long.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp quit football at the end of last season, taking what he said was a long overdue break and yesterday he announced he’s back in the game, albeit in a slightly different role.

The German won’t be taking charge of any team as manager, but instead will be the main man for the football arm of Red Bull, the multinational private conglomerate company known for its range of energy drinks.

Aside from the beverage business, Red Bull has been involved in sponsoring all sorts of sporting activities since the 1990s.

Cliff diving, skateboarding, beach volleyball, Formula One and gymnastics, to name but a few.

In 2005, Red Bull bought the Austrian club SV Austria Salzburg and renamed it Red Bull Salzburg, a move which has been heavily criticised by supporter groups within Austria and across Europe.

The same year they bought the MetroStars in New York, renaming the team the New York Red Bulls and in 2009 they bought German fifth division club SSV Markranstadt based near Leipzig, renaming them RB Leipzig. They also have teams in Brazil, Ghana and are minority stakeholders in Leeds United from the English Championship.

Now they’ve added Klopp to their fold, I expect more football clubs around the world to join the Red Bull organisation.

Some Liverpool fans have been left feeling a little miffed that he’s back in work so soon after his shock resignation. But not me.

I would have for sure been shouting from the rooftops if he’d taken a managerial job with another club, but this I think is different.

Jurgen is still only 57. And as he’s joined a company whose revenue in 2023 was reported to be north of $10 billion, I’m guessing he’s getting paid a decent chunk of change.

Red Bull say that Klopp will focus on supporting sports directors, mentoring coaches and helping to develop talent across Red Bull’s network.

Red Bull’s CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said of the appointment: “Klopp will be the strongest signing in Red Bull's soccer history.”

He’s not wrong. Whatever his actually day-to-day job is, one thing’s for sure. They signed a winner and a man who is still full of energy.

And if that energy does start to slip, he can always grab a can of Red Bull. VNS