MAINZ, Germany— Tension filled the air at the Opel Arena as Mainz supporters voiced their frustration with former coach Jürgen Klopp during their team’s 2-0 defeat to RB Leipzig. Fans unveiled banners criticizing Klopp’s recent decision to join Red Bull as their global head of football, a move that has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many who once revered him.
A prominent banner, using a play on Klopp’s name, questioned, “Have you lost your mind?” Another referenced a famous quote from Klopp, reading, “I like people until they disappoint me.” The largest banner, splashed in bold red letters, bluntly asked, “Have you forgotten all we gave you?”
Klopp, a beloved figure in Mainz’s history, spent seven years at the club, both as a player and a coach, helping them rise to the Bundesliga for the first time. His success at Mainz paved the way for his legendary stints at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, where he won the Premier League and Champions League. However, his decision to step down from Liverpool in the summer and accept a role with Red Bull—known for its controversial ownership of clubs in Leipzig, Salzburg, and New York—has sparked anger among fans in Germany, particularly in Mainz and Dortmund.
Red Bull’s multi-club ownership model and the perceived undermining of Germany’s 50+1 rule, which mandates that club members hold a majority stake in teams, have long made RB Leipzig a target for criticism from traditionalists. For many fans, Klopp’s association with the company feels like a betrayal, especially given the animosity between Leipzig and the football community in Germany.
RB Leipzig, who remain unbeaten this season, moved to the top of the Bundesliga table with the win, further intensifying the emotions of the Mainz supporters. Leipzig coach Marco Rose, a former player under Klopp at Mainz, addressed the fans’ protests but downplayed their significance.
“Look, the stadium is full of opinions,” Rose said in the post-match interview. “But I’m sure the vast majority of people here still appreciate what Klopp did for this club. He’s part of Mainz’s history, and everyone has the right to make their own decisions in life.”
Rose added that Klopp likely wouldn’t have even noticed the banners, stating, “It didn’t seem like anything too dramatic.” Nonetheless, the sentiments expressed by the Mainz faithful reflected a growing divide between the club’s fans and their former hero.
As Klopp prepares to take on his new role at Red Bull in January 2025, the rift between him and sections of the German football community seems unlikely to heal anytime soon.
