'Have you forgotten?' - Mainz fans send clear message to Jurgen Klopp with banners protesting former coach's move to Red Bull

After stepping down as Liverpool manager at the conclusion of the last Premier League season, Klopp went on a sabbatical from the sport. However, months into his break, the German manager confirmed his return to football, taking up the position of Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull.

Fans of both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, two clubs where Klopp enjoyed great success, have not taken kindly to his decision to join Red Bull. In a public display of frustration before Mainz's Bundesliga fixture with Leipzig, Mainz supporters held up a banner that pointedly questioned Klopp’s decision.

The message on one of the banners unfurled by Mainz fans read, “Have you forgotten everything we made you become?"

The dissatisfaction didn’t end with the questioning of Klopp’s choices. A second banner, placed further along the stands, referred to what is believed to be a former quote from Klopp himself. The message stated: “I like people up to the point where they disappoint me,” seemingly referencing the fans’ sense of betrayal over Klopp’s association with a corporate entity that has long been the subject of fan protests.

Another banner read: "Are you crazy?"

Klopp is set to begin his new role as Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull on January 1, 2025. This executive position will mark a new chapter in Klopp's storied career, as he transitions from managing on the sidelines to overseeing Red Bull's global footballing ventures. For now, the manager will continue to enjoy his time off from football following a nearly nine-year stint at Liverpool, where he became one of the most celebrated managers in the club's history.