Jamie Carragher leaps to Jurgen Klopp’s defence and accuses fans of being ‘hypocrites’ after former Liverpool boss was savaged for taking new Red Bull job

Jamie Carragher has leaped to Jurgen Klopp’s defence after the ex-Liverpool managers’ recent move to Red Bull.  

Klopp was confirmed as the Austrian company’s ‘Global Head of Soccer’ earlier this month and will begin the role on January 1.

The German had been enjoying his time off after leaving Liverpool, following a successful nine-year tenure, back in May.

However, the 57-year-old has signed a long term contract to oversee the international network of all football clubs at Red Bull. 

Klopp has come under huge scrutiny for the move, notably from fans of former club Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, who have long had issues with RB Leipzig – funded by the Austrian drinks manufacturer – over their ownership model. 

Klopp was confirmed as Red Bull’s ‘Global Head of Soccer’ and will begin the role on January 1

Speaking on CBS’ Champions League coverage, Carragher insisted he understands the backlash but backed Klopp as ‘a man of the people’.  

‘I just think it’s rubbish,’ he said. ‘Jurgen Klopp is a certain type of manager. He’s a man of the people. There’s a feeling in Germany, and I understand the model in Germany, this (Red Bull) is completely different. But the idea Jurgen has got to stick to the ideals of Mainz and Dortmund supporters for the rest of his life..

‘We’re all hypocrites, to be honest, we all have views on certain things, but if someone offers us enough money, we’d still do it. He’s not the manager of Red Bull, he’s overseeing. He’s speaking to people, going to meetings and getting paid a lot of money.

‘If Mainz and Dortmund supporters are that against the Red Bull model then why did Dortmund buy Erling Haaland from them? Why did they get Adeyemi? If you’re so against it then don’t buy and sell players to them. They got the best striker in the world and then sold him for £50m to City and that was okay.’

Carragher also pointed to the previous business done between Liverpool and RB Leipzig, with Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai among players to have moved to Anfield from the German club. 

Klopp’s new role will require him to be responsible for the international network of all football clubs under the Red Bull umbrella – including Leipzig, Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls

He will be required to advise the clubs on coaching matters, playing philosophy, development and transfers of players and head coaches.

Carragher insisted he understands the backlash but backed Klopp as ‘a man of the people’ 

In 2016, during Leipzig’s first season in the German top-flight, Dortmund fan groups agreed to boycott their first visit to the Red Bull Arena.

The creation of RB Leipzig by the energy drink company, followed by their meteoric rise through the leagues from 2009, left opposition fans with a deep dislike for the club.

The main issue was Red Bull’s circumnavigation of the Bundesliga’s 50+1 rule, which gives its members, the fans, the balance of power when it comes to electing the board.