Jürgen Klopp: "I'm not the shadow boss at RB Leipzig!"

Jürgen Klopp, Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer, oversaw RB Leipzig's return to training but insisted he is not there to take on any coaching role and predicted a bright future under new boss Ole Werner.

The former Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach has been regularly questioned on his coaching future since starting the role with Red Bull in January 2025, which puts him at the top of the group's multi-club football operations.

On day one of pre-season training at Leipzig he was again asked about his role and, again, firm in his response: “I don’t know if I need to explain this a thousand more times – I’m not the shadow boss here. I’m just trying to contribute my experience – and I really do have quite a lot of that.”

A two-time Bundesliga champion as well as a Premier League and UEFA Champions League winner, among others, Klopp certainly does and new Leipzig coach Ole Werner will surely lean on that experience as he looks to get them back to the top end of the table.

Klopp signed autographs for the RB Leipzig fans in attendance. - IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Jan Kaefer

Werner was brought in from Werder Bremen in the off-season, with Leipzig looking for fresh impetus after a campaign which saw them finish seventh - their lowest final league position in the top flight since promotion back in 2016.

As straight to the point as ever, Klopp said, “being as successful as possible would be great,” under the new head coach before outlining his hopes for a specific brand of football under Werner.

"Proactive, high-intensity, well-organised, and creative,” described Klopp of the style the club is looking for before hinting at some new arrivals over the coming weeks. He added: “The squad will still change, I think that’s clear." 

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