Klopp Close to Exit, Glasner Next in Line: What is Red Bulls Head of Global Football?

Is Red Bull's “Head of Global Soccer” a Good Idea?

When Jurgen Klopp was announced as Red Bull's new Head of Global Football, more than a few heads were turned – after such managerial success at Liverpool, the German certainly deserved a break, but no one had seen a non-management job coming.

His role as the figurehead of all of Red Bull’s football entities across the world has effectively trapped the Liverpool legend – should he ever want a management role, he will have to go through all the procedures and legislation that come with resigning from your role, instead of simply coming out of a hiatus and straight back into management had he rejected the role.

🚨 Jürgen Klopp could leave his Head of Global Soccer role at Red Bull amid mixed results across the club network — particularly at RB Leipzig.

Oliver Glasner is reportedly being discussed internally as a potential successor. 🇦🇹

However, Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff has… pic.twitter.com/nNL3b273ge

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 26, 2026

However, recent reports suggest that he may be leaving his role sooner rather than later, although not of his volition – with some of Red Bull's flagship sides, including their crown jewel of RB Leipzig, underperforming, the energy drink giant is rumoured to be thinking of dismissing the Champions League-winning manager, with wantaway Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner now listed as their ideal replacement.

What Does “Head of Global Football” Mean?

On the first day of 2025, just a few months after leaving his long-term role as Liverpool manager, Klopp ended his sabbatical to become Red Bull’s head of global football in an agreement made two months previously.

Jurgen Klopp will assume the role of Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull starting January 1, 2025 👔 pic.twitter.com/a0czJBd1Xb

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 9, 2024

Unlike his prior role in management, his new position meant that instead of concerning himself with the day-to-day running of the club, Klopp would instead be focusing on long-term strategy, encompassing all of Red Bull’s widely spread clubs. In Red Bull's own words, his job was to “help those at the helm of each respective outfit to further develop the company’s philosophy and would also assist with scouting and educating coaches.

A total of six clubs were now under his care: RB Leipzig in Germany, RB Salzburg and FC Liefering in Austria, New York Red Bulls in the US, and Red Bull Brazil and Red Bull Bragantino in, you guessed it, Brazil.

That’s a lot of responsibility for anyone, particularly for someone who in the past has only had to concern themselves with the strategy of one club, not several. Though Klopp’s charisma and charm have been used to get clubs onside before, as we saw during his stints at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, it looks as if the German’s future does not lie outside of management.

Despite the company’s huge financial backing, only one of their six football teams currently tops their league, with this being Salzburg at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga. Leipzig are underperforming in the German top flight in 5th, RB Bragantino sit seventh in the Brazilian Serie A, and New York Red Bulls sit third in the MLS, although only one matchweek has been played.

With such an elite footballing mind leading the company and its assets into the future, the Red Bull brand would have expected some more marked progress by now, and the fact that things may actually have regressed could be answered with two theories – either Klopp is not the man to lead the company forwards in this role, or having a “Head of Global Football” doesn’t actually work.

Out with the Old, In With the New

As soon as he took on the role, Klopp was on the receiving end of all sorts of criticism, particularly because he had been critical of the multi-club model during his time at Liverpool. To now be the face at the helm of such a model was tantamount to blasphemy in the eyes of many German football fans.

Jürgen Klopp to be head of Global Soccer for Red Bull Group. Doesn't have a problem with multi-club ownership now then?

— The Real Tolmie's Hairdoo (@RealTolmie) October 9, 2024

Nevertheless, always up for a challenge, Klopp plugged away, but despite significant pockets and no shortage of innovative operations and resources, he has so far failed to make his appointment work, and the poor performance of the teams in his care has led to rumours that his job is at risk.

Jurgen Klopp is not leaving Red Bull according to CEO Oliver Mintzlaff https://t.co/8Gf0t0tgVN

— James Brooke (@jamesvictorb) February 26, 2026

However, shortly after the suggestions of Klopp's job being in danger were published, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff came out to close Pandora’s box, saying, “This is complete and utter nonsense and entirely made up. On the contrary, we are extremely satisfied with the work Jurgen is doing. He invests a great deal of time and effort and is in constant communication with our coaches and sporting directors.”

Though news of Klopp’s imminent departure seems to be contradictory, Red Bull have taken little time in identifying a successor. After what I’m sure was a very detailed, data-driven search, they settled on the blatantly obvious option of Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner, who has already confirmed that he will be leaving the Eagles at the end of the season.

A German national like Klopp, it should take Glasner little time to pick up where his predecessor left off – after all, he masterminded Crystal Palace to their first-ever piece of major silverware, so the issue of planning for the future of six teams should be a piece of cake in comparison.

But if Glasner also fails to get the Red Bull brigade moving in the right direction, it may be time to consider an alternative approach. If two of Germany’s finest tacticians cannot plot a path to silverware and success for the multi-club model, it may be time to consider other options.

What is the Point of the Head of Global Football?

But whether it is Glasner or Klopp in this role, I still don’t understand why putting one person in charge of six clubs is a better option than enlisting one individual for each club.

The current setup means that Klopp is forced to take into account the financial, footballing, talent-stocking and investing landscapes of each and every club, a veritable tsunami of information that would take, as Mintzlaff would say, “a great deal of time and effort" to understand, let alone act upon.

There is also the potential that for the issues less at the forefront of the club's future, there is the potential for them to be rushed, with Klopp perhaps happy to move swiftly onto the next big issue at hand.

Of course, with a multi-club model, there is always going to be an individual who calls the shots somewhere, whether it is in a role like Klopp's or simply from the CEO’s and owners, but there has to be a more effective way. If Klopp cannot bring the model success in that position, then it’s safe to say that no one will.

Oliver Glasner hits out at #CPFC fans demanding his sacking:

🗣️ “Stay humble. Never forget where you’re coming from. I think a few who are so critical in this situation are not humble anymore. Forget where you are coming from and usually in life you are punished for this” pic.twitter.com/EmXbPnxONx

— James Savundra (@JamesSavundra) February 20, 2026

Why not instead appoint a sporting director at each club? They have largely the same role, having a say in transfer wheelings and dealings, development strategies, and potential investment opportunities.

The main bonus would be that they would not have five other clubs on their plate, instead focusing all of their resources on just one. This means that no decisions will be rushed, every possible outcome and circumstance will be churned over until there are no possibilities left, and the extra mile will be taken every time before making any decision of magnitude.

Moreover, an individual in this role would still be able to fulfil the requirements set by Red Bull – arguably, further developing the company’s philosophy and assisting with scouting and coach training is the easy part of the job. The tougher side is behind the scenes, the side of things that Jurgen Klopp has likely found overwhelming and the side that has limited the success the company has tasted since joining.

Though Glasner is an immensely promising coach, he would fare no better than his senior countryman and arguably much worse. Coaches should be left to do their jobs on the sidelines; they should not be running clubs from upstairs – their lack of understanding when it comes to corporate decision-making, as well as anything outside of the player management sphere, means they are simply not equipped to deal with the financial and global reputation side of the business.

Of course, if Mintzlaff is to be believed, Klopp still has plenty of time to make his unusual role a resounding success – Red Bull certainly won’t have a better time of things if they bring in an inferior manager.

However, the role itself seems inherently flawed, created as the perfect outlet for rushed decisions and half-hearted decision-making. The less tailored a leader is to one specific club, the less influential they can be. As soon as this one person is put in charge of six separate entities, all hell can break loose, and if Klopp doesn’t start bringing some success to the company, that will happen sooner rather than later.

🚨🧨 EXCLUSIVE DETAILS | Jürgen #Klopp is a candidate for the head coach position at Real Madrid, should the club decide to appoint a new manager in the summer. As revealed on 11 December and confirmed again.

⚠️ Understand despite Klopp’s long-term contract with Red Bull and… pic.twitter.com/Ot00h0nhpf

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 13, 2026

Leaving Red Bull could well be a good thing for Klopp – linked with both the Real Madrid and German national team jobs, it would mark a return to the job he is best at: managing from the sidelines. However, for Red Bull, it would spell out a very different destiny – their way of operating would need to change quickly, or all of the work they put in to build up the Red Bull brand could quickly go to waste.