Ralf Rangnick set to join Manchester United on an interim managerial role

Ralf Rangnick set to join Manchester United on an interim managerial role

Who is Ralf Rangnick? Everything you need to know about Manchester United’s interim boss

Manchester United have reached an agreement with veteran German mentor Ralf Rangnick, as per widespread reports in Europe.

Ralf Rangnick set to join Manchester United on an interim managerial role

Ralf Rangnick set to join Manchester United on an interim managerial role

Manchester United have reached an agreement with veteran German mentor Ralf Rangnick to be their interim manager until the end of the season, as per widespread reports in Europe.

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Manchester United had switched their attentions to appointing an interim manager after sacking club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a poor run of form on Sunday. 

Manchester United had an approach for Pochettino turned down

Earlier in the week, it looked like Manchester United were ready to abandon their interim manager approach, after getting wind that they had a sniff of signing reported long-term managerial target Mauricio Pochettino. But reports surfaced yesterday that he would not be allowed to leave PSG mid-season. The club’s board then wasted very little time in the pursuit of Rangnick as part of their original plan, but who is the 63-year-old?

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Rangnick had a playing career which was not the most distinguished, but it did pave the way for his managerial career. He had his first taste of both sides as a player-coach at Stuttgart before leaving Germany. This will not be his first stint in England having been involved as a player for English side Southwick while he studied at the University of Sussex before returning to his homeland.

Rangnick’s Managerial career

Rangnick would then prolong his playing career in the lower ranks of German football, before calling time on it. He then received his first coaching opportunity at his hometown club Viktoria Backnang and finished his playing career as a player-coach for Stuttgart II and TSV Lippoldsweiler.

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His first Bundesliga coaching opportunity would coincidently come through Stuttgart again. But after running into difficulties in his second season, Rangnick was then sacked. He then received another opportunity in Bundesliga 2, through Hannover, who he then led to promotion to the Bundesliga. He then missed out to Joachim Low, in his application to be the German national team assistant. 

He enjoyed coaching success at Schalke

He would eventually move on to coach both Hoffenheim and Schalke 04 where enjoyed success in his two spells. In his second stint at Schalke, Rangnick won the German Cup, German Super Cup and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League where they were beaten by Manchester United.

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Rangnick then left coaching and took up a director of football role for both RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg. He was also the mastermind behind Salzburg rising from the fourth tier of German football all the way to the Bundesliga. he is also credited for the club’s growth into a European football mainstay, and his scouting of unproven talent and polishing them into some of the most sought after talents in the game.

He proved himself behind the scenes

Rangnick managed Leipzig on two spells where they achieved promotion to the top-flight, finished runners up in the German Cup and established themselves as regulars in the Bundesliga. He left Leipzig last year after a protracted move to AC Milan collapsed and joined Lokomotiv in the summer.

His influence on current coaches

Rangnick’s influence on the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Julian Nagelsmann. has had him termed the grandfather of the popular gengenpress. He is also referred to as professor of football’. He is also known as one of the pioneers for zonal marking from set-pieces with his sides well known for a high-pressing game as well as a tendency to play on the front foot.

Is Rangnick the person to bring the good days back at Manchester United?