Status: 29.11.2021 12:41 p.m.
Ralf Rangnick will be the new coach at the English football champions Manchester United until the end of the season. Then he should advise the Premier League club.
Ralf Rangnick is the new team manager at Manchester United. The 63-year-old has signed a contract with the traditional club around superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as interim coach until the end of the season, as the Red Devils announced on Monday (29.11.2021). After this season, Rangnick will work as a consultant for ManUnited for two years.
Early release from Moscow
After Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool FC) and Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea FC), Rangnick is the third German team manager in the Premier League. It is unclear whether Rangnick will be sitting on the United bench in the home game against Arsenal on Thursday, as he does not yet have a valid work visa.
“I’m looking forward to joining Manchester United and focusing on making this a successful season for the club,” said Rangnick, who succeeds the sacked team manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Manchester are currently eighth in the table.
“He was our first choice”
“Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football,” said United football director John Murtough. “He was our first choice as a transition coach because of his invaluable leadership quality and technical knowledge, which he brings with him through his almost four decades of experience in management and coaching.”
Rangnick’s commitment has been considered secure since last week. The online magazine “The Athletic” reported on it first. Rangnick, who coached Bundesliga clubs RB Leipzig, FC Schalke 04 and Hannover 96, most recently worked as a sports director at the Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. An agreement between Man United and Lok was reached shortly before, according to the Sky Sports broadcaster.
“Full of quality and great balance”
Rangnick should help the team around superstar Ronaldo and the former Dortmund Jadon Sancho to regain success as quickly as possible. After 13 matchdays, United are twelve points behind leaders Chelsea. On Sunday a week ago, the club split from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a 4-1 disgrace at relegation candidate Watford FC. Since then, assistant coach Michael Carrick had looked after the team.
“The squad is full of quality and has a great balance of youth and experience. I will devote all of my efforts over the next six months to helping these players fulfill their potential, individually but above all as a team,” said Rangnick .