Manchester United have finalized their search for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s successor. After missing out on Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, the Premier League powerhouse opted to hire German visionary Ralf Rangnick as their new manager.
According to the club’s official press release, Rangnick will take over the club on an interim basis. He will serve in the managerial role until the end of the 2021-22 season before transitioning to a consultancy position.
After the news was confirmed, Rangnick issued a statement in which he said that he’s “focused on making this a successful season for the club.” He also praised United’s squad and said that his goal will be to help players “fulfill their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team.”
Manchester United fired Solskjaer after a disappointing run of games that included a heavy 4-1 loss to Watford. The club’s search for a new manager included looking into both temporary and permanent options. Their first choice was reportedly Pochettino, who was linked with the post for years, but PSG didn’t want to let him go mid-season. It is believed that United still has the Argentinian as their first choice and will make a run for him in the summer.
Meanwhile, Man Utd decided to bring in an experienced face in order to help bring the club back on track and get them through the season. They approached several managers, including ex-Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde and former Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre, before settling on Rangnick.
Despite the lack of major success during his managerial career, Ralf Rangnick is highly regarded in soccer. He is credited for laying the foundations of the “gegenpress” tactic and mentoring successful German coaches like Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel. Klopp even described Rangnick as “one of the best, if not the best German coach.”
Rangnick’s biggest successes came with Schalke 04, where he finished as a runner-up in Bundesliga and won a handful of German cup trophies. He also helped establish 1899 Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig as Bundesliga mainstays, working as a manager and sporting director with both clubs.
