World-renowned master Jurgen Klopp makes a surprise appearance in the opening game of Japan's second division...Onsite inspection of Omiya in Red Bull's capacity as an executive

Feb 15, 2025

Soccer Football - Juergen Klopp press conference - Salzburg, Austria - January 14, 2025 Red Bull's Global Head of Soccer Juergen Klopp and CEO Corporate Projects and Investments of

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Oliver Mintzlaff, Managing director of Red Bull arrives for the press presentation of Jurgen Klopp, Red Bull's new "Global Head of Soccer" in Salzburg, Austria on January 14, 2025. (Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP)<저작권자(c) Yonhap News, 무단 전재-재배포, AI 학습 및 활용 금지>

Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp (58), who is a great European soccer player, made a surprise appearance in the opening game of the second division of the Japanese J-League, making headlines.

According to Japanese media on the 15th, former coach Klopp presented an event for the opening game of the 2025 season between Omiya and Yamagata in the J2 League at NACK5 Stadium in Omiya, Japan.

Coach Klopp appeared on the ground before the start of the game and received a warm welcome from Japanese soccer fans and participated in the opening celebration with club president Hiromi Hara.

As a result, most Japanese soccer fans, as well as Omiya home fans, are surprised by the world's best player's visit to the second division through SNS.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Burnley - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - July 11, 2020 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp speaks with referee David Coote after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, Games or single club/legue/player publications. Please contact your account representative for future details./File Photo

Klopp's appearance in Omiya's opening game was part of the Red Bull group's job performance, which he is currently in. It was an on-site inspection of the Omiya club, which was added as an affiliate of the Red Bull Group.

Former coach Klopp, who stepped down as the head coach of Liverpool after the 2023-2024 season, got a job as the head of the global soccer division of the famous energy drink company Red Bull Group in October last year. Even so, Red Bull Group had clubs in each country, including RB Leipzig (Germany), Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), New York Red Bulls (USA), and Red Bull Bragancinu (Brazil), but acquired Japan's Omiya Ardiza in August last year.

In October of the same year, Omiya changed the club name to 'RB Omiya Ardiza'. Red Bull's acquisition of Omiya was the first time in J-League history to be sold to foreign capital.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.