Munich – Things have often gotten heated between Ralf Rangnick and FC Bayern in the past – but is there an industry in which what was said yesterday counts less than in professional football? Exactly, you have to search for quite a long time.
In the 2008/09 season, coach Rangnick shook up the Bundesliga with newly promoted team 1899 Hoffenheim and even became autumn champions. Which Bayern boss Uli Hoeneß took as an opportunity to attack his new rival. “I appreciate the Hoffenheim model,” said Hoeneß in Sport1’s “Doppelpass”: “If I were to worry about one thing, it would be Ralf Rangnick’s know-it-all attitude.” The first Hoeneß-Watschn.
And the second followed immediately. “So far in his career he has always performed well in the first year and the year later he was released,” Hoeneß continued about Rangnick: “That’s why I would be worried if he continued to have such a high. Because the altitude is high much thinner than the air he enjoys now. He will discover that too.”
Rumms. The verbal duel was on. Rangnick’s counterattack didn’t take long to arrive. “If you want to hear quick sayings, you have to go to Munich, if you want to see quick football, then you’ve come to the right place,” said the Hoffenheim coach and made another explosive comparison: “If it were a western, what it would be “It’s not a matter of securing their scalps.”
FC Bayern plan with Rangnick: First the European Championships with the ÖFB, then Säbener Straße
More than 15 years later, the relationship between Rangnick and FC Bayern around Supervisory Board Hoeneß has long since relaxed significantly. Sure: There were still a few skirmishes when Rangnick worked for RB Leipzig, but the football teacher is held in the highest regard in the Munich management team. According to AZ information, Rangnick is now one of the hottest candidates to succeed Thomas Tuchel next season. Bayern had not previously found a solution with Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann.
The plan with Rangnick looks like this: that he will still look after Austria as national coach at the European Championships in Germany and then take over at the Munich team in the new season. Since Rangnick is contractually bound to the Austrians until the 2026 World Cup, Bayern will probably have to pay a transfer fee. “Ralf Rangnick has a valid contractual relationship, the ÖFB has not received any inquiries,” said Austria sports director Peter Schöttel on Tuesday: “The full focus is on the UEFA Euro 2024.”
The poker over the amount of the transfer fee is now open, Bayern is hoping for an agreement soon – possibly this week.
FC Bayern: Discussions between Rangnick, Eberl and Freund have taken place
It has been known for some time that Rangnick can imagine the Bayern job. His statement at the beginning of the month at a media event in Düsseldorf did not change that. “No. Why should I? I feel comfortable here. I still have a contract until 2026. Our goal and path continues even after the Euro,” said Rangnick when asked whether he had already spoken to those responsible at FC Bayern. A meeting has now taken place with Bayern’s sports director Max Eberl and sports director Christoph Freund, with whom Rangnick has a very good relationship. Now the three parties Bavaria, Rangnick and Austria still have to come to an agreement.
For Lothar Matthäus, Rangnick’s commitment would be absolutely understandable. “Ralf Rangnick has to be on the list that Max Eberl made,” said the record national player recently: “Wherever he worked, he always did a successful job. He played attractive football.” And Rangnick has always discovered young players, Matthäus added: “That’s the path that Bayern also want to take under Eberl.”
If the Rangnick deal falls through, FC Bayern will move towards an interim solution
What should also be mentioned, however, is that Rangnick had no success in his last position as club coach. With Manchester United he only scored 1.45 points on average between December 2021 and May 2022.
If Bayern and Rangnick fail to reach an agreement, The clubless Hansi Flick and Lucien Favre would be the alternatives as interim solutions for the coaching position. Jürgen Klopp could then take over in 2025 – or Xabi Alonso.