Jurgen Klopp insists he has no plans to become Red Bull coach and hopes that Mohamed Salah stays at Liverpool

German gives first press conference since becoming head of global soccer at Austrian organisation

Jurgen Klopp at his unveiling as Red Bull's new head of global soccer in Salzburg, Austria, on January 14, 2025. AFP

Jurgen Klopp has given his first interview since becoming head of global soccer at Red Bull in which he has insisted that he has no intention of coaching at any of the organisation's stable of clubs.

The German also gave his verdict on Mohamed Salah's future at former club Liverpool while also outlining what he hopes to achieve in his new role at the Austrian company.

Klopp quit his job as Liverpool manager last summer after a hugely successful nine-year stay on Merseyside that saw him win the Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, Premier League and League Cup.

After a short sabbatical, the 57-year-old was appointed by Red Bull in October but only officially started on January 1.

Klopp will help oversee the organisation's network of clubs that include German club RB Leipzig, FC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, MLS side New York Red Bulls and Brazilian clubs Red Bull Bragantino and Red Bull Brasil.

He will also contribute to the training and development of coaches – but will not be returning to the dugout himself.

“I did not want to do that any more,” Klopp said at a press conference at the Red Bull Hangar-7 facility in Salzburg on Tuesday.

“I wanted to get a new start and this is an opportunity. To add value. How it will look we will see. There is not one plan that works for all teams.

“We want to be the best we can be. In each department, in each club.

“I always wanted to try to learn new stuff and I felt immediately that it's exactly what I want to do. It's a different role.

“I will not be a coach of a Red Bull team,” he added. “That’s a clear commitment. As much as you can give a guarantee, I will not be a coach at all.

“I am probably the only person in this room who will be asked where are you in five years, I don't have a clue.

“I will not be the replacement of one of the coaches. I hope we can create a structure where these kinds of questions will not come up at all. That would be cool.”

Back in Liverpool, the major talking point at the moment is whether Egyptian attacker Salah leaves the club when his contract ends at the end of this season.

Salah was a central part in Klopp's success and has just reached 175 Premier League goals for the club, matching Thierry Henry's tally to become the joint seventh highest in the competition's history.

The 32-year-old admitted earlier this month that he is “far away from any progress” on a new contract and is in his “last six months” at the club.

But Klopp remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached between the two parties: “I hope he stays. He is Liverpool’s best striker in modern times, and they had many great ones.

“A fantastic player, a fantastic professional, absolutely outstanding. The best ambassador Egypt could have.”

As for his own Liverpool exit, Klopp revealed that the time felt right after a coaching career that had also seen him win the Bundesliga title and lift the German Cup at Borussia Dortmund.

“When you are in the job for 25 years, it's super intense,” he said. “The only thing is that I am a very curious person and I couldn't feed that any more,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“It was just game after game after game after game. You keep a specific level and I wasn't extremely happy with that to be honest. I always want to try to learn new stuff and I felt when I heard about the role that's what I would do.

“I no longer have to improve the game in individual places, but I want to make football better all over the world. No longer prepare a new game every week, but work on the bigger picture.”