Sticky business Move from freedom fighter to fizzy pop frontman shines a light on god delusion

Jürgen Klopp could not be more excited. Jürgen Klopp's passion for football is as strong as it ever was. Jürgen Klopp wants to work with incredible football talent. Jürgen Klopp is joining Red Bull as their head of global soccer. One of these sentences, clearly, is not like the others. Which is not to impugn the sincerity of the official statement issued jointly by Klopp and the world's stickiest energy drink yesterday morning, announcing his new role with the corporate giant. On the contrary: this is a job that positively exudes passion, excitement, connection. Klopp tearing through the boardroom after delivering a successful seminar. Getting mobbed by delirious data scientists. Firing up the Microsoft Teams call with his famous fist pumps.

- Jonathan Liew

The reality is probably going to be a little more prosaic. A lot of the snap analysis of Klopp's decision seemed to regard this move as an inevitable pirouette towards a return to management: perhaps at one of the Red Bull clubs, perhaps as the German national team manager, a job that Klopp will reportedly be allowed to take if it ever comes up. But if a return to coaching is the overarching goal here, then this feels like a pretty strange way of going about it.

The national team position is occupied by Julian Nagelsmann, who seems happy enough to continue to the 2026 World Cup, if not even further. Equally, for all the struggles of Pepijn Lijnders at RB Salzburg, it's hard to envisage a scenario in which Klopp willingly replaces his former assistant. Perhaps the Leipzig job comes up at some point. But when you have the pick of the world's clubs, why restrict yourself?