Klopp happy at Red Bull - Real rumors "media hype"

After just over a year as Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull, Jürgen Klopp is still not interested in a comeback as a soccer coach. At a media roundtable during RB Leipzig's Bundesliga match against FC Bayern Munich (1:5), the 58-year-old reacted with amusement to rumors that he could become Xabi Alonso's successor at Real Madrid. "I'm not thrilled if Real Madrid show interest in me, because they don't really do that anyway, it's all just media hype," said Klopp according to the portal "transfermarkt.de".

The former successful coach of Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool FC was "surprised, but at the same time not" that Real had parted company with Alonso. "It's Real Madrid; Jupp Heynckes was sacked there even though he had won the Champions League. I don't know what that says about Real Madrid," explained Klopp.

Klopp "wouldn't want to be anywhere else"

At the same time, he emphasized that he wouldn't swap his job at Red Bull for anything else at the moment. "I know I can coach a soccer team, but that doesn't mean I have to do it until my last day. I wanted to do something else. Red Bull gave me the chance to find a role that we defined together step by step. Personally, I've reached a point where I'm completely at peace with myself. I don't want to be anywhere else," the New York Times quoted him as saying.

As Global Head of Soccer, he does not see himself in the role of hiring coaches for Leipzig or the other RB clubs New York in the USA, Bragantino in Brazil, Omiya Ardija in Japan or Salzburg in Austria. Red Bull also has shares in Paris FC. "Recently I heard I was the gravedigger for coaches, but that's the last title I ever want to have," said Klopp. He sees himself in an advisory role with power. "That means I listen and rely heavily on the people at the clubs. Sometimes I calm things down, sometimes I make decisions," emphasized Klopp.

Contact person for coaches

In his role as a consultant, he wants to be there first and foremost as a contact person for the coaches of all RB clubs. During his time as a coach, he often had to make decisions alone in his office. "My idea for our coaches is to be exactly the person I never had myself," said Klopp.

Many people would give advice or have great ideas, but it was not easy to make a final decision, he said. "That's why I want to be there for the coaches now, in those moments when they feel alone," said the 58-year-old. He continued: "Talk to me about it. I won't judge you. The coach has to be the one in the team who always has an answer ready. I want to help him find those answers."