Angry fans claim Klopp has tarnished his legacy with return to football

Jurgen Klopp's appointment as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull has prompted a strong reaction from football fans on social media.

The new role will be the German's first since stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of last season, having cited a lack of energy as one of the reasons when he announced his departure in January.

This was an open goal for trolls, who couldn't resist the connection between Klopp's resignation rationale and the energy drink his new employers are famous for producing.

Read more: Jurgen Klopp unveiled as new Red Bull Global Head of Soccer

WHAT FANS ARE SAYING ON SOCIAL

After the news of Klopp's return to football broke on various X accounts, including those of Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano), Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) - and Bild Sport's head of football Christian Falk (@cfbayern), we rounded up some of the most salient replies from their followers.

The fan comments range in tone from supportive to brutally critical, with some of the angriest reactions coming from Klopp's homeland.

Freddy (@ANSisHere): " Jan. 2024: “I’m running out of energy.” Oct. 2024: Gets a job at Red Bull. COINCIDENCE!!!"

Benny (@bxnnyBVB): "If you don't get your mouth full enough, you're selling your soul to a construct that is destroying football around the world. Thank you, Jurgen. You only work for traditional clubs, build up a great reputation, only to then destroy it like that."

Marius (@drecksuser): "Unfortunately, this has absolutely damaged his legacy."

FC Bayern Talk | Tim (@MiaSan4ever): "Never! Oof… I have to say, his image to me has changed significantly as a result of this decision. From a sporting perspective, yes, okay. But from a human perspective and what he embodied as a person with passion in football, I find it difficult to understand."

Lunatear (@xIMondlicht): "The exit option is the most important thing. After World Cup 2026 he will be coach of the Germany national team."

Read more: Sporting director confirms he will wait for Jurgen Klopp

OLISZN (@MiaSanDieEins): "Hahahaha! As always, everyone thinks Klopp is so great, but he does one dubious thing after another. First advertising for dubious insurance companies, then for the rip-off association DVAG, now this. He sells his a**** to every brand and all of Germany still loves him."

Mr. Sketch (@landauer_kurt): "Klopp and Red Bull? That's a bad joke. The guy who stood for pure passion is now selling out to commerce? After all the fire at BVB and Liverpool, he now prefers money to the love of the game. Maybe he never really loved football."

Kunal Gupta (@kunalkd01): "Jurgen Klopp as the Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull? Talk about mixing high-octane energy with tactical genius! This could redefine club culture and player development worldwide. Can't wait to see how he transforms the game on a global scale—let's hope they have enough Red Bull for all the late-night strategy sessions!"

Bayern_Platin (@BayernPlatin): "I would have celebrated it if he had returned to Dortmund. Well, there would be more options. But to Red Bull? Not understandable as a football romantic. I loved Kloppo for his style and in my world it doesn't fit with Red Bull."

Exilant (@PeterBvB1909): "At first I thought it was an April Fool's joke in October, but when you think about his collaboration with DVAG, it's not that far-fetched."

Tee Mak (@tee_mak007): "Perfect for him. Still involved in football but less hands on day to day and most importantly still gives him the opportunity to manage Germany when it comes around probably in 2 years."

Pablo Miguez (@pablomiguezdm): "He can do whatever he wants and he'll earn some good money without the stress that comes along managing Dortmund or Liverpool... But still... Red Bull? It's a bit disappointing."

Kevin McGuinness (@Kevmcguinness1): "So he has taken a football management position (if not a first team manager role) which will strengthen direct competition to both LFC and FSG sporting ambitions, when he should have been under contract for another 18 months. FSG should have locked him out the game."

Luca (@Lucade56)@: "Jurgen Klopp you are an enemy of football."

Sternenpflücker (@tateusfan): "Artificial hair, artificial teeth, artificial heart. My opinion."

Watching the content apocalypse eating popcorn (@derpherberts): "Let me spell it out for you one more time: You might think K has been raking in millions for years, so money wouldn't tempt him anymore, but you'd be dead wrong. Legacy? My ass; Mainz and BVB fans are now running him out of town. Advertising guy? You can forget about that too, nobody wants him anymore. He's torpedoed himself, gain in sympathy = 0."