Ralf Rangnick is a German professional football coach and executive who is currently the manager of the Austria national team. He is known for his innovative coaching style, which has been credited with helping to popularize the gegenpressing style of play.
Rangnick was born in Backnang, Germany, on June 29, 1958. He began his playing career as a defender for local club SpVgg Backnang, but he retired from playing at the age of 25 due to injury.
Rangnick began his coaching career in 1983 with SSV Ulm 1846, where he led the club to promotion to the second division of German football. He then moved to VfB Stuttgart, where he worked as a youth coach and assistant manager.
In 1995, Rangnick was appointed manager of SSV Ulm 1846 for a second spell. He led the club to promotion to the Bundesliga, the top division of German football, for the first time in their history.
Rangnick’s success at Ulm 1846 attracted the attention of bigger clubs, and in 1998 he was appointed manager of Schalke 04. He led Schalke 04 to the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1999, where they lost to Chelsea.
In 2001, Rangnick was appointed manager of Hoffenheim, who were then playing in the third division of German football. He led Hoffenheim to promotion to the Bundesliga in 2007, and they finished in fourth place in their first season in the top flight.
Rangnick’s success at Hoffenheim earned him a move to Red Bull Salzburg, where he worked as sporting director and head coach. He led Salzburg to the Austrian Bundesliga title in 2012, and he also won the Austrian Cup on three occasions.
In 2012, Rangnick was appointed head of sport and development at Red Bull, a role in which he oversaw the development of the Red Bull footballing philosophy. He also worked as a consultant for other clubs, including RB Leipzig and Manchester United.
In 2018, Rangnick was appointed manager of RB Leipzig, where he implemented his gegenpressing style of play. He led Leipzig to the Champions League for the first time in their history, and they finished in third place in the Bundesliga in 2019.
In 2019, Rangnick was appointed as a consultant to Manchester United. He worked with the club’s new manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and he helped to implement a more attacking style of play.
In 2021, Rangnick was appointed as interim manager of Manchester United following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He led the club to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, and he also guided them to the final of the FA Cup, where they lost to Chelsea.
In 2022, Rangnick was appointed as the manager of the Austria national team. He will be looking to lead the team to success at the 2024 European Championship.
Rangnick is a highly respected coach who has achieved success at a variety of clubs. He is known for his innovative coaching style, and he is credited with helping to popularize the gegenpressing style of play.
Rangnick would be a strong candidate for the England manager’s job. He has a proven track record of success at club level, and he is also familiar with English football having worked as a consultant to Manchester United.
However, there are some potential weaknesses that could hinder Rangnick’s chances of becoming the England manager. He has never managed a national team before, and he may not have the experience required to manage a team of England’s size and stature.
Overall, Rangnick is a highly qualified candidate for the England manager’s job. He has a proven track record of success at club level, and he is also familiar with English football. However, he has never managed a national team before, and this could be a potential weakness.