AssetID: 55750846
Headline: Klopp of the Pops: Neymar leads team of stars completing outlandish football challenges for ex-Liverpool manager
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN Ahead of the World Cup, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp brought together some of football's biggest names - including Neymar, Jr. - for a series of outlandish skill-based challenges staged across the globe this spring. Klopp, now Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull, oversaw the Red Bull Ultimate Football Challenge, which saw leading players take part in a set of football tests that ranged from a keep up and passing drill staged on moving platforms 15 metres in the air, navigating giant moving treadmills, and hitting illuminated targets on a 94-panel wall. In addition to Neymar Jr, the event featured Real Madrid teenager Endrick, Benfica midfielder Richard Ríos and Liverpool captain Dominik Szoboszlai. They were joined by freestyle footballer Séan Garnier and RB Salzburg midfielder Nicolas Seiwald. The challenges took place in São Paulo, Bilbao and Salzburg, each designed to examine different aspects of the participants' abilities. Klopp said the world's best footballers tend to share two key qualities: outstanding technical ability and an ability to retain a sense of enjoyment for the game. For the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager, maintaining that childlike enthusiasm is one of the greatest challenges facing professional footballers. He said: "Nowadays, it's a big challenge for players to keep the kid inside alive. That's why we started the game, why we love the game so much. But here you can see, they still have it, they still enjoy it." The group was given a combined allocation of 100 footballs across all three events. By the conclusion of the challenge, only six remained. Each challenge was tailored to the strengths of the players involved. In São Paulo, Neymar, Jr. and Séan Garnier took part in an aerial control and touch challenge intended to highlight the technical skills that have characterised Neymar's career in Brazil, Europe, Saudi Arabia and with the Brazilian national team. Of his challenge, Neymar, who is a doubt for the World Cup due to injury, said: “I thought it would be easier. But after I was up there, I was afraid, and I saw that it was harder than it looked. It's more because of the wind, how the ball comes, the ball changes direction a lot, so it makes it even more difficult for you to control it." Bilbao hosted a test for Endrick and Richard Ríos, who were required to demonstrate close control, movement and finishing while operating on large moving treadmills designed to create an ever-changing playing surface. The final challenge took place in Salzburg, where Szoboszlai and Seiwald faced a precision passing and penalty-shooting test centred on accuracy and technical execution. A number of former international stars were also involved in the event. Former Brazil midfielder Zé Roberto, former Spain international Thiago Alcântara and former Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger acted as mentors, guiding participants through the various challenges. After the event, Klopp added: They were all impressive, and the most impressive was definitely the pass from Endrick on the treadmill. Richard just controlled it with the first touch and scored. I didn't think that was possible. The control was exceptional." The challenge has been released online, offering supporters an opportunity to see some of football's leading players tested in situations far removed from a traditional match environment.
Keywords: feature,red bull,klopp,neymar,football,soccer,world cup
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