Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, now serving as head of global soccer for the Red Bull Football Group, has publicly praised the quality and growing potential of Major League Soccer (MLS) during a recent visit to the New York Red Bulls training facility ahead of the Hudson River Derby.
Klopp, who transitioned from coaching to a strategic executive role last year, observed training sessions with the Red Bulls in Morris Township, New Jersey, and expressed confidence in MLS’s trajectory. “I’m 100% sure that in five years’ time, we will speak completely differently about this league,” Klopp said. He highlighted the league’s improvements in youth development, training infrastructure, and overall playing standard. Klopp described the current quality as “really, really good,” noting the presence of talented players maintaining a high intensity on the field. His visit coincided with the Red Bulls preparing for their high-profile rivalry match against New York City FC.
The German coach acknowledged MLS’s rapid growth fueled by significant investment in talent and facilities, underscoring the league’s enhanced competitiveness on a global scale. MLS clubs recently set a record by spending approximately $336 million on transfers in 2025, including marquee arrivals such as South Korean star Son Heung-Min, who joined LAFC for an MLS-record fee of $26 million. The league’s profile has been further elevated by global stars like Lionel Messi, whose move to Inter Miami in 2023 attracted international attention. Klopp praised the Red Bulls’ new training center as “outstanding,” emphasizing its state-of-the-art design and the opportunities it offers for player development.
Klopp’s role overseeing Red Bull’s football operations across multiple clubs, including RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg, positions him uniquely to influence cohesion and strategic direction within the organization’s global network. His endorsement of MLS quality and infrastructure reinforces the league’s ambition to narrow the gap with top European competitions as they build momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup hosted partly in the United States.
For the New York Red Bulls, Klopp’s engagement comes amid a challenging season as they vie to maintain their streak of 15 consecutive MLS Cup Playoff appearances. While acknowledging the team has not consistently met expectations this season, Klopp praised their fighting spirit and positive attitude as they push for a playoff berth.
This visit and public commendation by a respected figure in world football signal an important milestone for MLS, illustrating its growing stature and the increasing seriousness with which it is viewed by elite football professionals. Klopp’s endorsement suggests that the league’s maturation is well underway, with a clear upward trajectory that aligns with the broader ambitions of Red Bull’s global football strategy and the evolving landscape of soccer in North America.
