This is how Großkreutz reacts – “As a fan, I no longer want to see him in front of the south stand”

The move from Jürgen Klopp to Red Bull is causing outrage among many. Also among Kevin Großkreutz.

The news has divided football-loving Germany: Jürgen Klopp is to become the new Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull. For realists, it’s a logical step, both in sporting and financial terms. For football romantics, it’s a stab in the heart.

Kevin Großkreutz belongs to the latter category. “It was a shock, it’s sad. Somehow it still hasn’t really sunk in,” said the former Borussia Dortmund professional in his podcast Viertelstunde Fußball.

“I woke up, had 30 messages on my cell phone and thought, ‘What happened?’” added the 36-year-old. And further: ”I also thought I was in a dream, then I hoped that the message was fake. It was a shock, and kind of sad too. Two hours later, it was all official.”

Großkreutz made his Bundesliga debut for BVB under Klopp in 2009, became German champion in 2011 and 2012, advanced to the national team and even became world champion with Germany in 2014. The defensive all-rounder played more often for no other coach (236 competitive games, 27 goals and 37 assists). Second on the list? Christian Wück, his coach at Rot Weiss Ahlen, with only 59 games.

But he will always remain a friend of mine, that’s just a fact. He is always welcome at home

Kevin Großkreutz on Jürgen Klopp

So as a player, Großkreutz has an incredible amount to thank Klopp for. But: “As a fan, I don’t want to see him in front of the south stand anymore. If we meet, I’ll tell him in person that I think it’s crap that he does something like that,” he explained. And yet the 57-year-old still has a place in his heart: “But still, he will always be a friend of mine, that’s just a fact. He’s always welcome at home.”

Klopp has had three highly emotional stints as a coach with 1. FSV Mainz 05 (2001 to 2008), Borussia Dortmund (2008 to 2015) and Liverpool FC (2015 to 2024). At the beginning of the new year, he will now become football boss at the Austrian company Red Bull. This includes RB Leipzig, Salzburg, the New York Red Bulls, Bragantino (Brazil) and Omiya Ardija (Japan).