When Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool in the summer of 2024, many assumed he would take a break from football before eventually returning as a manager. However, in an unexpected move, he assumed the role of Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull in 2025, surprising fans and pundits alike.
Klopp’s decision didn’t sit well with the German media, and his former Borussia Dortmund player, Kevin Grosskreutz, even described it as “shocking and sad.” Now, just a few months into his new position, it seems Klopp may have unsettled yet another one of his former players.
RB Leipzig has dismissed Marco Rose as manager, despite the team being sixth in the Bundesliga and only three points away from a Champions League spot.
Marco Rose Dismissed as RB Leipzig Manager
Former Player Under Klopp, With 157 Appearances
While Klopp has not publicly addressed the situation, his role overseeing Red Bull-affiliated clubs suggests he had some influence in the decision. According to Bild (via TalkSport), Klopp initially advocated for Leipzig to keep Rose following their 2-1 defeat to Mainz on March 1.
Given that, it was likely a tough call for Klopp to ultimately approve Rose’s dismissal. Ironically, the first manager he has had to part ways with since taking up his new role happens to be someone who played under him.
Rose, who also worked with Ralf Rangnick during his career, made 157 appearances for Klopp—more than under any other coach. During his eight-year stint at Mainz 05 (2002-2010), he played a key role in their promotion to the Bundesliga.
As Leipzig’s manager, the 48-year-old had some notable achievements, including winning the 2022/23 DFB-Pokal and securing Champions League qualification twice.
However, this season’s results have fallen short of expectations. In European competition, Leipzig won just one of their eight matches, finishing 32nd out of 36 teams in the revamped Champions League league phase. Domestically, they have won only two of their last 11 Bundesliga games.
Despite Klopp’s initial support for Rose, the club ultimately decided a change was necessary. Alongside Rose, assistants Alexander Zickler, Marco Kurth, Frank Geideck, and Frank Aehlig have also been dismissed. Leipzig’s Managing Director for Sport, Marcel Schäfer, stated:
“We held faith in our collaboration with Marco and his staff for a long time and tried everything to turn things around together. However, given the ongoing lack of results, we firmly believe fresh impetus is needed to achieve our goals this season.”
He continued: “We want to express our gratitude to Marco and his team for their dedication, the successes we shared, and their contributions to the club over the past two and a half years.”