Jurgen Klopp was a notable absentee for Red Bull Salzburg’s friendly against Bayern Munich has been revealed.
Klopp officially began his duties as Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer on January 1 in what marked his first role since departing as Liverpool manager last May.
Given RB Salzburg’s status as one of the flagship clubs under the Red Bull umbrella, some suspected Klopp would be in attendance for the match.
However, the 57-year-old was nowhere to be seen.
According to German outlet BILD, Klopp did not want to ‘attract media attention’ or ‘distract attention from the sporting aspect.’
Klopp’s appointment to the role attracted plenty of controversy given Red Bull’s history in German football as well as his connections to Borussia Dortmund and Mainz.
German clubs must adhere to the 50+1 rule, which states the majority of a team’s ownership must belong to the fans.
Red Bull has long been accused of circumventing the long-standing rule, which is held in high regard in German football.
Speaking to talkSPORT in October, German football expert Constantin Eckner claimed Klopp’s decision to take up the role had done serious damage to his reputation.
“He was the head coach of Mainz and Borussia Dortmund who have positioned themselves as the antithesis of clubs like Leipzig and Hoffenheim,” Eckner said.
“Especially Dortmund fans, but a lot of football fans in general are not only annoyed, but somewhat angry.”
Bayern ran out 6-0 winners over the Austrian side as both clubs ramp up their return to action in their respective leagues following the winter break.
GettyThe former Liverpool boss chose not to take in Salzburg’s friendly against Bayern Munich[/caption]
Eric Dier, Thomas Muller, Michael Olise, Joshua Kimmich and Jonathan Asp Jensen all got on the scoresheet for the Bavarians.
As for Salzburg, the match will have given new boss Thomas Letsch plenty of food for thought.
Letsch was appointed on December 18 after Pepijn Ljinders, who joined Salzburg in July, was sacked.
Ljinders arrived in Austria following six years as Klopp’s right-hand man at Liverpool and helped the club win the Premier League and the Champions League.
The Dutchman departed after just 28 matches in charge of the club as they went into the winter break fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga, ten points adrift of league leaders Sturm Graz.
Salzburg also lost five out of six Champions League fixtures to leave the team sitting 29th out of 36 teams.
In a joint statement, Salzburg chief executive Stephan Reiter and sporting director Rouven Schroder explained ‘many unsatisfactory performances’ were behind the decision to axe Ljinders.
“We began recently to analyse, as planned, what has unfortunately not been a satisfactory season so far,” the statement read.
“It was clear to see that in many of our matches we have been far short of our own requirements and aims.
“We have therefore become convinced that our team needs a few impulse under new management, even if we continued to hope for a turnaround until the end.”