Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp could not have parted on better terms. And while some eyebrows were raised when he returned to football well short of the year's break he had said he needed, his Anfield successor was already constructing a title charge by then — the angst was minimal, but the same was not true at some of his other former clubs.
From a Liverpool perspective, the Red Bull gig seemed like a pretty obvious next step for Klopp. Led by Michael Edwards, the Reds actively took lessons from the energy drink giant during the German's reign, and numerous players flowed between the clubs.
Few were more central to the Klopp era than Sadio Mane, who initially came up through Red Bull Salzburg. Meanwhile, the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino were all signed directly from either Salzburg or Leipzig.
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And in taking over as the head of global soccer at Red Bull, Klopp has at least stayed away from another managerial post. Not having to face him any time soon in the Champions League (or worse, the Premier League) is more or less the best-case scenario for Liverpool.
If it is possible, Klopp has even managed to further enhance his reputation at Anfield since leaving his post. While Arne Slot deserves huge amounts of plaudits, the ease with which he has taken the reins is testament to the team that was left behind by his predecessor, ready and waiting to challenge for the top prizes.
But while his legacy at Liverpool is more than safe, Klopp must have known that the Red Bull move would be controversial to say the least with supporters of his other former clubs. It is no exaggeration to suggest that his new employer is despised by much of the rest of the Bundesliga.
German football sets plenty of store by the "50+1" rule, which is meant to guarantee fan ownership. It is an admirable initiative from a country that still views its clubs as community assets — and, notably, still manages to compete at the highest level of European football.
But while the rest of Europe could be taking lessons from this system, Red Bull is seen in Germany as trying to bypass it. Leipzig, officially known as "RasenBallsport Leipzig" to justify the RB in its name, is considered to have artificially worked around the fan ownership requirements.
Until recently, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz viewed Klopp in the same way that Liverpool fans see him — almost God-like, one of the very biggest figures in the history of the respective clubs. He was named as manager for the all-time Dortmund XI in 2020.
But such is the distaste toward Red Bull, some have started to turn against him. Even his legendary status has not protected him from the backlash. The extent of the displeasure is set to be made very clear at a parade in Mainz next month. The Rose Monday parade is known for its political satire, and a float taking aim at Klopp's new job is planned.
Last year's parade satirized Donald Trump, the Israel-Palestine conflict and more. This year, Klopp is set to be in the firing line. A float has been constructed that depicts the former Liverpool boss with banknotes for wings, a can of Red Bull clutched in his hand. A Euro sign is painted on his cap.
"For Kloppo values he no longer cares about, used to matter," reads the savage slogan on the side of the float. "Because Red Bull lures with a lot of money, he is now falling off his pedestal with a crash."
Naturally, the float does not speak for all Mainz fans. But for such a thing to roll through the streets of the city where Klopp once celebrated an unprecedented promotion to the Bundesliga is jarring to say the least.
Klopp, for his part, has addressed the criticism. He has argued that fans of the Red Bull clubs deserve these same moments of jubilation, and offered the concession that he will never actually coach one of the teams in the energy drink's stable.
But clearly, this is not enough for everyone, especially in Germany. If he wants to enjoy an entirely positive trip to a former club any time soon, Klopp might need to pay a visit to Anfield.
