The German's past and future are essentially colliding in Leipzig on Wednesday, as the row over his alleged hypocrisy rages on

On October 9, Kevin Grosskeutz woke up to more than 30 messages on his phone, all saying the same thing: Jurgen Klopp was joining Red Bull. Grosskreutz couldn’t believe what he was reading; he didn’t want to. He had played under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, who consider themselves the antithesis to Red Bull-backed rivals Leipzig, the 'most hated club in Germany'.

"I thought I was dreaming," Grosskruetz admitted on his Viertelstunde Fußball podcast. "Then, I hoped it was fake news. Two hours later, though, it was official. It was pretty shocking and sad. Somehow it hasn't really sunk in yet."

Grosskreutz isn't the only one still struggling to come to terms with Klopp's decision to become Red Bull's Global Head of Soccer from January 1 onwards. Indeed, just like the former Germany international, plenty of people within the game find it "very, very strange" that Wednesday's Champions League meeting between Liverpool and RB Leipzig is essentially a meeting of Klopp's past and future.

Why is this so controversial?

But why did the European Cup winner agreeing to effectively become the sporting face of the Red Bull brand come as such a surprise to so many people? And are they right to accuse him of selling his soul? GOAL breaks down one of the most fiercely debated moves in recent football history...

The Red Bull Way

The Red Bull model of club ownership has been a source of controversy since the company first started investing in football in the early 2000s. The company's approach to the sport has been seen by many as a form of sportswashing, where they use their wealth to buy up clubs and promote their brand, regardless of the impact on the local communities or the traditional values of the sport.

The Red Bull model is based on a number of key principles:

• A focus on youth development: Red Bull clubs are known for their academies, which are designed to identify and nurture young talent.

• A high-pressing, attacking style of play: Red Bull teams are known for their energetic and aggressive approach to the game, which has been successful in recent years.

• A global brand: Red Bull aims to create a global network of clubs, with teams in countries around the world.

Red Bull's investment in football has been successful in terms of on-field performance, with both RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig achieving significant success in recent years. However, the company's approach has also attracted criticism, with some arguing that it is a threat to the soul of the game.

Klopp's History with Red Bull

Klopp's history with Red Bull has been mixed, with a number of his former players, including Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Takumi Minamino, Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai, having played for Red Bull clubs. He has also been known to admire the company's youth development program. However, he has also been critical of Red Bull's approach to the sport, particularly their focus on commercialization and their lack of respect for traditional values.

In 2017, Klopp was quoted as saying: "I like tradition in football and all that stuff. In Germany, only two clubs sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before the game — and that is (his former clubs) Mainz and Dortmund." He was also critical of the way that Red Bull clubs have been able to quickly rise to the top of the German league system, arguing that their rapid ascent was unfair to the clubs that had been established for many years.

Despite these criticisms, Klopp has also been known to praise the Red Bull model for its focus on youth development and its commitment to playing attacking football.

The Surprise Announcement

The announcement of Klopp's appointment as Red Bull's Global Head of Soccer came as a shock to many people, including Klopp's former players, supporters of Borussia Dortmund, and even some people within the Red Bull organization itself.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull's chief motorsport advisor, told the Munich tabloid TZ that Klopp's appointment had been an open secret. “It’s unbelievable how such a megadeal could remain secret for so long,” he said. “That would never have been possible in Formula 1.”

Max Verstappen, the Formula One World Champion, also expressed his surprise at the move. “I knew already for quite a long time that they were talking and it was close to being signed,” he said. “Red Bull is investing a lot in football with the teams they have and there is a lot of talent that has come through already. With someone like Jurgen in charge from the top, he has a lot of experience and he has managed a lot of great clubs.”

It is unclear why Klopp decided to take on this role with Red Bull. He has been known to be a man of strong principles and it is difficult to reconcile his decision to join a company that has been accused of sportswashing with his previous criticisms of Red Bull. It is possible that he was swayed by the opportunity to work with a global company with significant resources. Or maybe it was the chance to develop a network of young talents and build a winning culture. It’s also possible that he saw the Red Bull model as a way to bring some much-needed structure and ambition to the world of football.

Whatever his motivations, there is no doubt that Klopp's decision to join Red Bull has been met with a great deal of skepticism. Only time will tell if he will be able to use his influence to make Red Bull a more likable force in the world of football.

A New Chapter

Klopp's decision to join Red Bull is a significant moment in the history of the sport. It is a sign of the increasing power of money in football, and it raises important questions about the future of the game. As he takes on his new role, Klopp will be under intense scrutiny. He will be expected to help Red Bull build a global football empire while staying true to the values that have made him one of the most popular and respected managers in the world. This chapter in his career will undoubtedly be a challenging one.