RB coach Stephan is hoping for a Klopp effect for women’s football too

Leipzig. Within a day, the news had completely conquered the football world. The signing of Jürgen Klopp as Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer was examined from countless sides, the effects on the image were discussed, the cooperation between locations from Leipzig to New York was discussed, and the demise of traditional soccer was discussed. As is often the case, one side of the coin initially received no attention: women’s football. This is of course what is meant by the term “soccer” and is a constantly growing factor, especially in the US metropolis, in Salzburg and also in Leipzig, which will also be supervised by former world coach Klopp in the future.

“We will see how much influence this step will ultimately have on my work and that of our women’s department. In principle, he is of course responsible for this,” confirms Jonas Stephan, coach of the Bundesliga women at RB Leipzig. The location is progressing rapidly in the Red Bull cosmos and is firmly in the middle of the table in its second season in the upper house. Professional conditions have attracted more and more well-known players to the Cottaweg in recent years. It is a clear wish of the team, coach and those responsible that women should also play internationally at some point. In this way, the many clubs in the Red Bull family could definitely support each other and, as in the men’s area, significantly more players could move from one club to the next. However, little of this can be seen yet.

The first synergy effects already exist between Leipzig and Salzburg

“We are already in contact with the other clubs, there is a certain network system: If players get injured with us, they may, for example, come to the Performance Center in Austria for treatment,” reports Stephan. There is a different synergy with the goalkeepers; coach Michael “Mitch” Gurski is in contact with the Salzburg team. Stephan can still estimate “0.0” in which areas Klopp will be involved and what effects he wants to achieve, as he openly admits. “I would of course be happy if I had the opportunity to exchange ideas with him.”

The women’s coach is of course aware that this will not be the coaching legend’s first priority. Men’s football comes first and takes place halfway around the world at Red Bull. “The list is long, he is responsible for many locations and cannot be in Leipzig seven days a week,” says Stephan. Either way, the impact of the obligation is huge – and extremely important for Leipzig. Stephan explains: “Jürgen Klopp probably has the greatest charisma in German football – without putting myself out there too much. The fact that someone like that is now taking on a leadership role in our company is a gift. We are very happy about that.” But first Stephan’s focus is on the Bundesliga home game on Sunday. From 6.30 p.m. the next three points are on the Cottaweg against newcomer Jena.

LVZ