Jürgen Klopp, who stood for authenticity, emotions and the heart of football like no other, is now moving to Red Bull, the epitome of football commerce. This is a revolution that is bigger than many think and will shake clubs from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid to their core.
It’s official: Jürgen Klopp is returning to football. However, he will no longer be directly on the sidelines, but will instead be pulling the strings in the background as a manager. A new era is beginning for the Red Bull clubs – from Leipzig to Salzburg to New York. Red Bull’s decision is entirely understandable. Jürgen Klopp has always been more than just one of the world’s most outstanding football coaches.
Kishor Sridhar is an executive consultant, keynote speaker and author. He advises European companies on leadership, change, new work and AI. With practical findings from his economic studies, such as “AI in medium-sized companies”, he supports management levels in change processes. Kishor Sridhar teaches Cross Cultural Leadership and New Work at the International School of Management in Munich.
Jürgen Klopp’s secret to success inspires even business bosses
It is no coincidence that Klopp’s transformational leadership style is now taught at the world’s most prestigious universities. His approach has long since left the sports world and is used in business as a role model for managers. Companies worldwide want to know: How does someone manage to form a team of individuals into a unit that can compete against the best of the best? The answer lies in Klopp’s authentic way of motivating people and living his philosophy.
Whatever Klopp touches becomes a success, they say, and Red Bull is buying a first-class leader with strengths that leaders often lack, not only in sport but also in politics:
- Visionary power: Klopp has the unique ability to develop long-term visions that not only inspire the teams themselves, but also steer the entire organization in a new direction. He not only sees the next victory, but plans for the years to come. This clear direction will now benefit him to strategically position the Red Bull clubs and lead them to the top with a clear vision.
- Motivational genius: He knows how to get the best out of his players and staff by inspiring trust and enthusiasm. As a manager, he will now use this talent to get his managers and coaches to not only train their teams, but to inspire them.
- Individual support: Klopp knows that every person is different. He attaches great importance to recognizing and promoting individual strengths. As a manager, he will also apply this to his leaders by giving them the freedom to develop their own abilities and lead their teams according to their wishes. This unleashes new powers.
- Creating collective identity: Klopp has always emphasized that team spirit is crucial to success. He knows how to create a shared identity and culture in which every player feels part of a larger whole. As manager, he will now transfer this culture to the Red Bull clubs.
- Emotional Intelligence: Klopp is known for his exceptional emotional intelligence. He can respond to people, de-escalate situations and resolve conflicts before they escalate. In his new role as manager he will use this skill to manage the often difficult dynamics between different clubs, coaches and players.
With these strengths in their luggage, the competition, especially Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, should prepare for tough times. As manager, Klopp will not only make the Red Bull clubs more successful in the short term, but will also build them into a permanent fixture in international football.
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Jürgen Klopp threatens to go from being a bearer of hope to becoming a gravedigger of football
But what set Jürgen Klopp apart above all was his leadership personality. He brought the human element back to the center of leadership. He showed that trust, authenticity and shared vision are more valuable than short-term gains or pressure to succeed, which in turn led to long-term success. Jürgen Klopp stood for honesty in football, closeness to the fans and ‘real’ football. The fans loved him for that and even his opponents respected him.
The very Jürgen Klopp who was previously celebrated for his passion and honesty is now in danger of losing this very aura of his leadership personality and thereby turning from an outstanding leader into mediocrity.
The football world will be watching closely to see how Jürgen Klopp copes with this new role – as a hero or as a controversial figure. One thing is certain: he will not only manage football, he will transform it. It may be that one day he will count as one of his greatest achievements the fact that he became the ‘gravedigger’ of authentic football. Let’s hope that he manages to do what hardly anyone has managed to do so far: unite commerce with the heart of football.
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