Jurgen Klopp to Mentor Ibrahim Sekagya

Jurgen Klopp has been appointed as Ibrahim Sekagya’s mentor at Red Bull.

The former Liverpool manager signed a long-term contract to become the Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull, where he will guide all the coaches under the Red Bull franchise.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs, but ultimately, I am one part of an organization that is unique, innovative, and forward-looking,” Klopp told the Red Bull website.

Sekagya is both the head coach of New York Red Bulls II and one of three assistants for the senior New York Red Bulls team.

Klopp will oversee the international network of all football clubs under the Red Bull umbrella, including Leipzig, Salzburg, and the New York Red Bulls. He will advise the clubs on coaching matters, playing philosophy, development, and transfers of players and head coaches.

Klopp’s move to the Red Bull family is expected to enhance Sekagya’s tactical knowledge of the game.

Sekagya

Sekagya was promoted early last year after spending eight seasons as an assistant coach. The decision-makers at New York Red Bulls were impressed by Sekagya’s development, particularly his ability to innovate and his collaborative and communicative style with players.

Klopp left Liverpool in May after a successful nine-year tenure, during which he led the club to Champions League and Premier League victories.

Speaking about his new role, Klopp said, “After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this. The role may have changed, but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not. By joining Red Bull at a global level, I want to develop, improve, and support the incredible football talent that we have at our disposal.”

Sekagya joined the Red Bulls II coaching staff after retiring in 2015 for its inaugural season in the USL. After seven and a half seasons as an assistant coach, he was named interim head coach on July 3, 2022.

Under his guidance, New York Red Bulls has produced some of the best talent in Major League Soccer (MLS). Besides overseeing 21 players who signed MLS contracts with the New York Red Bulls senior team, two players, Tyler Adams and Aaron Long, were part of the United States men’s national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Sekagya will work closely with Klopp starting January 1, 2025.

“Together we can discover what is possible. There are many ways we can advance using the elite knowledge and experience that Red Bull possesses, learning from other sports and industries,” Klopp said.