Klopp Commits to Advocating for Players’ Rights in New Role

German coach Jurgen Klopp said on Wednesday that he hopes to become a “spokesman for players” in his new role with Red Bull, advocating for their rights and well-being.

In October, the energy drink company announced Klopp would take on the role of Director of Football Operations starting in January, overseeing several of the clubs owned by the brand, including Germany’s Leipzig, the U.S.’s New York, and Austria’s Salzburg.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by former German international and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, Klopp described the role as “fantastic” and said that criticisms from some German football fans regarding his decision to accept the position “don’t matter much to me.”

Klopp, who has regularly spoken out on player welfare throughout his coaching career, often criticized the high match volume and short intervals between games.

“I’d like to be a voice for players who say there are just too many games,” Klopp said, adding that to maintain quality, “either reduce the number or expand the squads, though that’s very difficult to do consistently throughout a season.”

Some German fans have been vocal critics of Red Bull’s multi-club model, particularly with Leipzig. Klopp commented, “At over 50 years old, I’d be foolish not to manage it, though I reserve the right to say it doesn’t matter much to me.”

Klopp also confirmed he does not envision a return to coaching, including at the international level with Germany. He expressed his support for current German coach Julian Nagelsmann, saying, “We’d all be thrilled if Julian stayed for 10 years and won four titles.”