Anybody who thought Jurgen Klopp was going to put his feet up after nine years of managing Liverpool were mistaken after he took a new job not long after leaving Anfield
Jurgen Klopp has landed another new role – this time as a brand ambassador for a media company. Hamburg-based firm MediaMarktSaturn, which boasts a workforce of 50,000, revealed the ex-Liverpool manager will be tasked with boosting “team spirit” while also providing “support for their marketing activities across eleven countries”.
This marks the second new position the German has taken on in just a few months. Back in October, he stirred controversy when he took up the mantle as the global head of football for Red Bull, where he’s set to aid in the growth of clubs such as RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and Leeds United, who recently sold a minority stake to the Austrian energy drink firm.
While his new role was greeted with anger and controversy from his former sides Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, this new position is set to be a lot less controversial.
Michael Schuld, CMO of MediaMarktSaturn, said: “Instead of 50,000, we are now 50,001 in Team MediaMarktSaturn: We have successfully secured Jurgen Klopp as our new brand ambassador for the Group because every strong team has a strong coach.
“With him, we have a powerful and highly personable face for our company, who will accompany us through our campaigns at the brand level. Jurgen Klopp is authentic. He is passionate. He connects with people and inspires them to exceed their own expectations. This makes him the perfect partner on our journey to becoming the Experience Champion.”
While the role Klopp will play for the company is vague, it’s not expected to clash with his Red Bull duties. The German recently addressed his new position, explaining why he decided to link up with the Austrian energy drink company.
During an appearance on a podcast hosted by former Real Madrid and Germany star Toni Kroos, Klopp said: “You cannot make your decision depending on what reactions there will be. I did not want to step on anyone’s toes.
“I love all my former clubs, but I don’t know what I could have done so that everyone is happy. I am 57 and can still work a few more years, but I did not see myself on the side-lines for now. It was clear for me that I would do something – so then Red Bull came.
“I can’t poll the fans and ask them, ‘What should I do?’ If I had gone to Bayern [Munich], there would have been a huge outcry in Dortmund.”
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He added: “What should I do? I want to keep working. If you organise your life around trying to please everyone, you’ll find you fail every day.
“My only real option would have been to become a coach of a national side. But I don’t want to be a coach any more.”
Since Klopp’s departure at the end of last season, Arne Slot has enjoyed a strong start to life at Anfield. The Reds are currently second in the Premier League, second in the Champions League table, and in the quarter-finals of the League Cup after overcoming Brighton and Hove Albion 3-2 on the South Coast.