Klopp’s new role was confirmed this week (Picture: Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp’s eye-watering salary at Red Bull has been revealed.
This week, the Austrian energy drink company appointed Klopp their head of global soccer, overseeing all footballing development.
Red Bull owns RB Leipzig in Germany’s Bundesliga, Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg and Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls, in addition to Brazilian side Red Bull Bragantino. They also own a minority stake in Leeds United, becoming their principal shirt sponsor.
It is his first role in football since stepping down as Liverpool boss in the summer, insisting the Anfield job left him ‘running out of energy.’
Klopp earned around £15million-a-year at Liverpool, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in world football.
While he will be earning less than that figure in his new role, Klopp will still be earning very well with Sky Sports Germany reporting he will bank between €10million and €12million (£8million and £10million) a year.
That wage package will see Klopp bank more than his successor at Anfield with Arne Slot on a deal reportedly worth £6.5m. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is thought to be on a similar number.
Klopp said goodbye to Liverpool in the summer (Picture: Getty)
Klopp’s decision to join the Red Bull project has been regarded as a betrayal by fans and football experts in Germany.
The coach became a hero at Borussia Dortmund, a club steeped in tradition with RB Leipzig regarded as ‘the most hated club in Germany’ who languished in Germany’s fifth tier until they were bought and rebranded by Red Bull in 2009.
The Red Bull model also been fiercely criticised with one of Klopp’s own former players Kevin Grosskreutz taking aim at his former boss.
‘It was pretty shocking and sad. Somehow it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Grosskreutz, who made 176 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund under Klopp.
‘I don’t think anyone was expecting it. It’s very, very strange and I can’t really comprehend it yet. It’s like shock! Nevertheless, he’s a friend of mine and I owe him a lot. And I will always be grateful to him.
‘As a football fan, I think it sucks, to put it bluntly! But as a friend, you have to accept decisions being made. When we meet, I’ll still tell him personally that I think it’s s**t that he does something like that!’