Red Bull boss sheds light on secret Jurgen Klopp talks after approaching former Liverpool manager TWO YEARS before emotional Anfield farewell
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Jurgen Klopp was first approached by Red Bull more than two years ago and conducted secret meetings during his Liverpool reign, a company boss has revealed. The German will begin his role as 'Global Head of Soccer' with Red Bull on January 1 after his new job was announced in October.
![[The former Liverpool boss initially turned Red Bull away but was very eager to agree to a deal after he announced his departure]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/15/93430051-0-image-a-78_1734967515894.jpg)
Klopp left Liverpool's players and fans reeling in January when he announced he would leave, though club chiefs had known since November 2023. His new role sees him responsible for the international network of all football clubs under the Red Bull umbrella - including Leipzig, Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls. it was a task that had tantalised him all along.
![[Oliver Mintzlaff says Klopp wasn't concerned by the money and was just enthusiastic]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/15/93430203-0-image-a-79_1734967564480.jpg)
'Over the last 20 years, I have experienced, helped shape and negotiated many negotiations in football. I have to say that when he got the yes, it was the easiest,' said Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff, as per BILD. 'Not because we offered him an unbelievable financial package, on the contrary. We spoke about the financial side for 20 seconds because he said he was up for the task.
![[Klopp was targeted with a threatening banner by Holstein Kiel fans after taking his new job]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/15/92908879-0-Jurgen_Klopp_is_shown_in_the_crosshairs_next_to_a_gravestone_in_-a-80_1734967918907.jpg)
Jurgen Klopp first had conversations about joining Red Bull more than two years ago, according to a company chief. The former Liverpool boss initially turned Red Bull away but was very eager to agree to a deal after he announced his departure. Oliver Mintzlaff says Klopp wasn't concerned by the money and was just enthusiastic.
![[The German will begin his role as head of global soccer at Red Bull from January 1]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/15/90632047-0-The_German_will_begin_his_role_as_head_of_global_soccer_at_Red_B-a-81_1734967957581.jpg)
'I hope he doesn't hear that now, because then he'll think that he and his advisor negotiated poorly,' Mintzlaff joked. 'But no, financially it took 20 seconds. When the yes was there, it was one of the easiest negotiations I've conducted in 20 years.
![[Former Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp has defended his decision to join Red Bull, but fans of his old side as well as Mainz were incensed]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/15/92909917-0-Former_Borussia_Dortmund_manager_Klopp_has_defended_his_decision-a-82_1734967961292.jpg)
