Germany explodes: Klopp “as fake as his teeth”

Fans and journalists believe that the former Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool coach has gone against his morals by joining Red Bull.

German fans and journalists have swiftly and overwhelmingly condemned Jürgen Klopp’s decision to become Red Bull’s new Global Head of Football starting January 1, 2025.

In Klopp’s home country - where he is renowned for his stints at Mainz, Dortmund, and Liverpool - the soccer division of the energy drinks multinational, particularly RB Leipzig, has long been scorned for achieving rapid and seemingly artificial success with minimal resources. Fans now accuse Klopp of betraying the traditional football values he once championed, by aligning with clubs that represent the opposite. Simply put: the public outrage is immense.

‘Klopp is making a pact with the devil’

One of the most vocal critics is Günter Klein, a journalist from the “Munich Merkur,” who posted on his X account: “Klopp is as fake as his teeth.” The prestigious newspaper Der Spiegel echoed this sentiment, writing on its website: “He once branded himself ‘The Normal One’ in contrast to José Mourinho’s ‘The Special One’ during his time at Liverpool, which earned him widespread admiration. Now, many feel it all makes sense—he has simply embraced the normal workings of the industry: money. This has left most fans uneasy.”

One potential lifeline for Klopp’s future, especially with rumours of a possible future as Germany’s national coach, is an exit clause reportedly included in his contract with Red Bull, as per Sky Germany. His new role might keep him more in the background.

According to Oliver Mintzlaff, one of Red Bull’s CEOs, Klopp will be tasked with laying the groundwork at Liefering, the Austrian second-division team. The club serves as a developmental hub for young talent from Red Bull’s vast academy, preparing players to eventually step up to Salzburg or Leipzig—a process that hasn’t yielded significant results in recent years.

In Germany, however, the sentiment remains stark. T-online.de bluntly asserts, “By joining Red Bull, Klopp shatters his image as an unimpeachable figure and undermines everything fans believed he stood for. In their view, Klopp is making a pact with the devil.”

The outlet further claims that Klopp is effectively “digging his own footballing grave,” and that his once untouchable reputation has been “destroyed in an instant.” They conclude with a stinging remark: “The man who was once a charismatic icon of German football has left the nation in disbelief—perhaps he doesn’t love the sport as much as he always claimed.”