Liverpool expert David Lynch does not feel that Jurgen Klopp has tainted his Liverpool legacy by becoming Red Bull's new Head of Global Football, but he can understand the severe criticism from Borussia Dortmund supporters.
After leaving Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season, there was the expectation that Klopp would take at least a year away from football despite links with the head coach positions at Germany and England, who have now hired Thomas Tuchel as their new manager.
However, it was announced earlier this month that Klopp had agreed to take on an office role with Red Bull as their Head of Global Football, where from January onwards he will assist operations for the likes of RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg, who are managed by his former assistant Pep Lijnders.
Klopp's appointment has been met with harsh criticism from both Liverpool and Dortmund supporters, and many fans of the latter possess a deep hatred for Leipzig, a sentiment that is shared by supporters of other Bundesliga clubs.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch admitted that he was slightly surprised that Klopp has jumped into a new role so soon, although he does not believe that his legacy at Liverpool will be tarnished: saying: "Yeah, a little bit surprised it's so soon. I really did think he would have a year off seeing as he was so adamant about it when we spoke to him. I thought he was going to take more time. It kind of makes you think, 'did you just want to get out of Liverpool a little bit at that point?' Was he just kind of ready to leave?
Lynch: 'Liverpool supporters cannot have criticisms of Klopp Red Bull appointment'
"Not on bad terms or anything like that, but just was it just time to have that break rather than him feeling he was ready to go into any sort of semi-retirement? But it's a good fit for him, that role.
"I don't think Liverpool supporters have any real cause to have criticisms of him around it. Dortmund fans, I completely understand from their perspective. It's a rival club and absolutely they are hated in German football, so I get that.
"But for Liverpool supporters, it's a back-office role in Germany. It doesn't directly impact on Liverpool and he hasn't gone directly back into management, so I don't think there should be any real disappointment. But I understand where Dortmund fans are coming from and why they're a little bit ticked off about this.
"I don't feel in England that the massive hatred for Red Bull is there. The hatred is more concentrated in Germany, where they have to interact with that club, or in Austria is a good example as well, where they've been so dominant in the league there.
"So I think that hatred is more kind of focused in those countries, really. Maybe there his legacy will be a little bit impacted, and there's just no doubt it will be amongst Dortmund supporters, but I don't really think that'll be the case in England."
Leipzig began life in the fifth tier of German football when they were established in 2009, but under Red Bull's wing, they have been transformed into one of the leading forces in the Bundesliga, twice finishing runners-up in the top flight and winning two DFB-Pokals.
Lynch highlights "s***" Klopp comments from ex-Dortmund winger
© Imago
However, many rival fans feel that Die Roten Bullen go against the traditional values of German teams, which are governed by the 50+1 rule, which states that the football team must be either majority-owned or fully-owned by the club.
Ex-Dortmund winger Kevin Grosskreutz - who worked under Klopp at the Westfalenstadion - labelled his former manager's decision "s***" when speaking to the Viertelstunde Fussball podcast, although Klopp's Red Bull deal apparently includes a clause which allows him to manage the German national team if Julian Nagelsmann ever leaves.
Lynch can therefore see Klopp being held in high regard once again if he does take charge of Die Mannschaft, adding: "I saw Kevin Grosskreutz, who played for him at Dortmund, his quotes on it. He wasn't very receptive to the idea and didn't seem to like it, and that was interesting that he was willing to speak his mind on it. That really gives you an insight into the mindset about the whole thing.
"But I think if he is disliked in Germany or things have slightly turned against him in Germany, the idea that he's got this break clause now that you can go and manage the German national team, if he does that for a couple of months, I'm pretty sure opinions will turn on him because he's still that likeable character.
"I think that the whole of Germany will quickly get behind him as well because he'll get results, no doubt. So, if that has harmed his reputation over there, then I think he'll be able to recover it fairly quickly."
Leipzig have made a strong start to the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, winning four and drawing two of their opening six fixtures to sit level on points with leaders Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, Salzburg are third in the Austrian Bundesliga - three points off leaders Sturm Graz with two games in hand - and the Red Bulls have qualified for the MLS postseason, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference table.
Ben Knapton
