Red Bull and Klopp at Paris FC: Gilli clarifies their role in the club's organisation

Red Bull and Klopp at Paris FC: Gilli clarifies their role in the club’s structure

It’s a question that keeps coming back from the stands.

Ever since Red Bull joined the Paris FC ownership and Jürgen Klopp was named “Head of Global Soccer,” fans have been wondering: how much influence do they really have on the day-to-day running of the club? On Friday, head coach Stéphane Gilli offered some clear answers in his press conference.

Red Bull: a recruitment partner, not a daily presence

Asked about his regular contact with Red Bull, Gilli didn’t beat around the bush:“ Not much. No, not every day.”

He went on to explain that most of the interaction with Red Bull came through François Ferracci, the former sporting director.“François was the one in touch with the Red Bull side, whether it was about recruitment, player data, projections, contract extensions… As you know, they’ve got a massive database.”

Red Bull operates a global player tracking and analysis system. It helps identify profiles, assess potential signings, and monitor the current squad’s performance.“It was mostly François who had regular meetings and reports with them,” Gilli added.

So the collaboration ran through Ferracci, who was replaced this week by Marco Neppe. Red Bull works with the club’s recruitment team, not directly with the manager.

Klopp: present in meetings, not in daily decisions

As for Jürgen Klopp’s role, Gilli was just as clear:“ Me, even less. I speak with Klopp from time to time. There’ve been a few meetings, but it’s not regular.”

The former Liverpool boss doesn’t get involved in tactical choices or the day-to-day running of the squad.“It’s more about the recruitment team and the club’s restructuring, training centre, infrastructure.

There are a lot of areas where they bring their expertise,” Gilli explained.

This clarification helps us better understand Red Bull's position at Paris FC. Their involvement centres on three main areas:

Recruitment: Red Bull has a network and analytical tools to identify and evaluate potential players.

Infrastructure: Support focuses on restructuring the club and improving the training ground.

Strategic vision: Klopp contributes occasionally on long-term development matters.

However, immediate sporting management remains entirely Gilli's responsibility: match preparation, team selection, dressing room management, training organisation.

Clear lines, clear roles

Gilli’s comments draw a firm line. On one side, Red Bull and Klopp offer their expertise in building the club’s structure. On the other, the manager retains full control over the sporting side.

“There are a lot of areas where they bring their expertise,” Gilli repeated. That word expertise came up often. It’s advisory, not directive.

Influence off the pitch, not on it

This setup breaks with the usual assumptions about Red Bull’s influence. At Paris FC, the model favours structural support over direct sporting intervention.

On Sunday in Nice, it’ll be Stéphane Gilli making every call from the touchline. Red Bull and Klopp will continue their work behind the scenes, focused on organisation and long-term growth.