The supporters of one of Jurgen Klopp’s former clubs, Mainz, have held up a banner criticising the legendary Liverpool manager for his decision to take a job with the Red Bull group.
Klopp left Anfield in May after a glittering nine-year period with the Reds and it was confirmed last week that the 2020 Premier League winner will return to work from January 1 as Red Bull’s head of global soccer.
The move has prompted plenty of backlash in his homeland, particularly within the fanbases of his former Bundesliga clubs of Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, who he took charge of for seven years apiece between the years of 2001 and 2015.
Before Mainz’s Bundesliga fixture with RB Leipzig on Saturday, the home crowd unfurled a banner that translated to criticism of Klopp and the decision to take a job within the ownership group of their weekend’s opponents.
Have you forgotten everything we made you become? Are you crazy?” read the banner. Another message, further down the stand, referred to what is said to be a former quote from Klopp himself.
It read: “I like people up to the point where they disappoint me.”Speaking about his decision to take up the post last week, Klopp said: “After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this.
The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not. By joining Red Bull at a global level, I want to develop, improve and support the incredible football talent that we have at our disposal.
There are many ways that we can do this front using the elite knowledge and experience that Red Bull possesses to learning from other sports and other industries. Together we can discover what is possible.
I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately, I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more.
