Jurgen Klopp has defended his decision to become head of
global soccer at Red Bull and explained it was difficult to take a job where
"everyone is happy".
The German, who left Liverpool at the end
of last season, has received a lot of criticism for joining Red Bull -
especially among fans of his former club Borussia Dortmund.
In 2009, Red Bull caused controversy in German football when
it took over fifth-division SSV Markranstadt and turned the club into RB
Leipzig.
The Austrian company owns Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red
Bulls, Brazilian club Red Bull Bragantino and recently acquired a stake in
Leeds United.
While not technically owning RB Leipzig, it is also
financing the Bundesliga team, who have been branded the "most hated club
in Germany" and faced regular protests by opposition fans - ranging from
boycotting games to the arrest of 28 Dortmund fans for throwing cans and stones
at rival supporters in 2017.
Speaking on the podcast of former Germany, Bayern Munich and
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, Klopp said: "You cannot make your
decision depending on what reactions there will be.
"I did not want to step on anyone's toes. I love all my
former clubs, but I don't know what I could have done so that everyone is
happy.
"I am 57 and can still work a few more years, but I did
not see myself on the sidelines for now. It was clear for me that I would do
something - so then Red Bull came."
Klopp added he had never viewed Red Bull's involvement in
football "so critically" and called his new role, which he will begin
in January, a "fantastic" opportunity while criticism from
German football fans was "not hugely relevant to me".
"I can't poll the fans and ask them, 'what should I
do?' If I had gone to Bayern [Munich], there would have been a huge outcry in
Dortmund," he added.
"What should I do? I want to keep working. If you
organise your life around trying to please everyone, you'll find you fail every
day."
Klopp also reiterated he did not see himself making a return
to management, even at international level with Germany.
"My only real option would have been to become a coach
of a national side, but I don't want to be a coach any more," he said.
