Ex-Liverpool boss slammed for shocking move: Did he betray his roots for big money?

RB Leipzig's 2-0 win against Mainz 05 this weekend was a giant leap in the race that goes on in the Bundesliga, which finally put Leipzig in second place in the standings, but the game wasn't just about what goes on the field. Off the pitch, the appointment of Jürgen Klopp, barely a week after being named as a director of Red Bull clubs, heralded another new era of controversy, with the eternal debate over loyalty in soccer ongoing and loud between past and present.

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Idol to embattled figure

To contextualize, one has to go back in time. Before he was the famous manager because of his coaching skills at Dortmund and then Liverpool, Klopp received his big opportunity at Mainz 05. That is where Klopp had initiated a career as a coach and developed a near-devotional relationship with the fans while guiding that team to levels of success it never knew existed.

Now, assuming a strategic role within the Red Bull group, which includes rivals such as Leipzig, he has become a target of protests for Klopp. The basic sense of critique from Mainz's supporters and even some German media would be implicit: he "betrayed" his roots to join a project that many people in Germany consider commercial against the very essence of German soccer. And the fans did not hold back in showing their grievances.

During the Mainz vs. Leipzig match, discontent from banners that lined the stadium could be felt: "Have you forgotten everything we made you? Are you crazy?" The message flowed from disappointment, and ironically, just what one would get from those hurt by someone who had once been integral to the history of a club.

Irony and criticism amidst victory

Indeed, disgruntlement was the overlord of Klopp's new role. There was one banner in particular that really cut with its irony. It took words once spoken by Klopp himself: "I like people until they disappoint me." The fans turned it on him-perversely saying, in effect, "Now, we're the ones disappointed."

On the pitch, however, RB Leipzig attended to business. Ever-sharp Xavi Simons opened the scoring at the 20-minute mark. The second followed soon after when Willi Orbán extended the lead in the 37th minute. While the players celebrated, many eyes were fixed on the sidelines where Klopp's new chapter unfolded.

Klopp's new challenge and the Liverpool burnout

The fact that Klopp would assume a role within the club structure of Red Bull came out of left field for many. For Klopp, though, this move seems like the natural step in his career arc. He will not be hands-on with the day-to-day running of the clubs but instead more of a mentor to the coaches and staff, which he termed as "an opportunity to develop talent and innovate."

In a statement, Klopp said he was looking forward to the chance to work with a new breed of coaches. His time in charge of Liverpool has spanned nine years, and one of the major factors that contributed to his decision to leave Anfield was the physical and mental demands of the job. Klopp built a winning era at Anfield, but that level of success came at a price. "I see my role primarily as a mentor. I'm part of an organization that is unique, innovative, and far-sighted," Klopp said. His comments show a wish to move more into the background, as he focuses on long-term development.