The ink is dry: Ralf Rangnick fulfills the next heart’s desire and becomes a national coach. The 63-year-old takes over the Austrian selection.
“It is an honor for me to take on the task as a team boss. With great anticipation, I particularly fulfill the prospect of contesting the European Championship in Germany with a young, long -term team,” said Rangnick in a message.
He succeeds Franco Foda, who announced his farewell after the missed qualification for the World Cup finals at the end of the year.
As the ÖFB announced on Friday, Rangnick’s contract is initially valid for two years. If the team qualifies for the 2024 European Championship in Germany, the contract will automatically extend by two years to the 2026 World Cup.
double role for Ralf Rangnick
According to Rangnick on Thursday evening, as planned, he will also work as a consultant of Manchester United after this season.
The Swabian native, who has always dreamed of an engagement in the Premier League, is still in action as the coach of the English record champion. From July 1st, the Dutch Erik Ten HAG will train the United professionals.
Until the first game as a national coach, Rangnick doesn’t have much time. On June 3, Austria will play against Croatia in the Nations League in Osijek. Three days later there will be the first home game under Rangnick’s management, opponents in the Vienna Ernst Happel Stadium is Denmark.
Rangnick could also meet Yussuf Poulsen, which he once brought to RB Leipzig as a Uniteds director. In his own squad, he knows, among others, Marcel Sabitzer (now FC Bayern) perfectly from the time together at RB.
Another home game and more than just a real endurance test stands for Rangnick on June 10th, again in Vienna world champion France is the opponent.
little success with Manchester United
Since the beginning of the month, Rangnick’s commitment has been speculated as a national coach in Austria. However, an alleged meeting had been denied by the association a few weeks ago.
Rangnick was also under discussion as a national coach last year after the farewell announcement by Joachim Löw. He had made a name for himself as a coach and maker at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and at RB Leipzig.
In December 2021 he took over as a transition coach at Manchester United, previously he worked as a Uniteds director at Lok Moscow.
In the previous 25 games with Manchester, however, ranking only ten wins, eight games ended, seven were lost. In the table, the team around superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is sixth.
