Jurgen Klopp was ready to join Red Bull within 20 seconds of hearing their financial offer as the ex-Liverpool coach prepares to start his new job.
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Klopp set to take on Red Bull roleCEO says he accepted offer within secondsCoach to begin new job on January 1Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Klopp was expected to take a lengthy break from football after he stepped down as Liverpool coach in the summer, but by early-October he had signed a contract to take over as head of global football at the energy drinks company, which owns German club RB Leipzig, Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg and MLS outfit New York Red Bulls. The German manager will begin work in January.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Klopp's decision proved controversial among fans and some of his former players, though the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss has defended his move. The 57-year-old will reportedly earn around €12 million (£10m/$12.5m) per year in his new position, a figure it took little time for him to say yes to, according to Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff.
WHAT MINTZLAFF SAID
"Over the last 20 years, I have experienced, helped shape and negotiated many negotiations in football. I have to say that when the yes was there, it was the easiest. Not because we offered him an unbelievable financial package, on the contrary," he said on "We spoke about the financial side for 20 seconds because he said he was up for the task. I hope he doesn't hear that now, because then he'll think that he and his agent negotiated poorly. But no, financially it took 20 seconds. When the yes was there, it was one of the easiest negotiations I've had in 20 years."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR KLOPP?
Mintzlaff sais he first contacted Klopp two years ago and is excited for the iconic coach to get underway. Klopp will primarily be focused on RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls, Bragantino in Brazil and Japanese side Omiya Ardija. His first press conference in his new role is scheduled for Januar 14.
