Rose is looking forward to his buddy Klopp and his "expertise"

Marco Rose has welcomed the appointment of his former Mainz coach Jürgen Klopp as head of soccer at Red Bull. "I'm looking forward to it. I think I will be able to use his expertise, his experience, his charisma, his network and try to be successful together. It's a good story for everyone here," said the RB Leipzig coach ahead of this Saturday's match (3.30 pm/Sky) at 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Rose remembers his time in Mainz very well. "It was a very special time that we had together. A great community, a great group, we created something special in Mainz. We're very proud of that, which is why we're still very much in touch," said Rose, who always had a direct line to Klopp. "We've seen, heard, written to and, of course, supported each other. Now he will do that in his new role here at the club."

Years of work on the Klopp coup

Rose himself learned of the signing personally from Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff. "I believe that Oliver has been working on this big coup for years. He has succeeded. I think it's a really cool, good signing for our club, for multi-clubbing."

Immediately afterwards, he contacted Klopp, reported Rose. He was looking forward to his new role and his vacation until he starts on 1 January. "That's why he said goodbye," said Rose, who added: "Neither I - nor I think Kloppo - want to make so much of this whole thing at the moment. Just let him start and work in January and get a feel for his role." RB face Klopp's former club Liverpool FC at home in the Champions League next Wednesday (21:00).