Man United are on the verge of appointing Ralf Rangnik as their interim manager.
He will take over from the sacked Ole Gunnar Solksjaer for six months and is also set to take on a consultancy role at Old Trafford for a further two years.
Photo via Sky Sports
At the time of writing, the club has already agreed personal terms with the ex-RB Leipzig coach, and is now sorting out compensation for his current club Lokomotiv Moscow, where he serves as head of sports and development.
Rangnik’s first game in charge is expected to be the EPL tie against Arsenal on December 3rd.
But who exactly is Rangnik, and why did United decide to hire him?
Ralf Rangnik is one of the most respected, and arguably one of the best coaches to come out of Germany. He’s described as an analytical thinker who places emphasis on aggressive pressing and a fast, effective style of football.
Rangnik is credited with being a mentor to current Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel…while Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp also considers him a massive influence on his own career.
Remember the gegenpressing style that shot Klopp to fame at Borussia Dortmund? He got that from Rangnik.
Rangnik was also one of the first coaches to use video analytics and sports psychology, which has become common across football today.
Photo via Sky Sports
At RB Leipzig – where Rangnik served as coach and later director of football – he built the team from the ground up…developing a young side known for their pressing, direct passing, and using numbers to overpower opponents in key areas.
It is with this style that he brought Leipzig from Germany’s second division up to the Champions League, where they made the semifinal in 2020.
It is no surprise then that United have decided to keep him on as a consultant for a further two years once his interim manager’s stint is over.
Rangnik’s style and approach to the game is the closest the club will ever get to the “Manchester United Way” made famous by Sir Alex Ferguson.
By: Nicholas Darren John
