Manchester United’s decision to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in late 2021 signaled a fresh start amid a dreadful season. In came Ralf Rangnick, a highly-regarded tactician who arrived at Old Trafford as interim boss with a depth of experience managing in Germany since 1983.
Rangnick’s initial impact was promising, winning three of his opening four Premier League matches and suffering just a single defeat across his first ten in all competitions. However, form quickly took a nosedive following a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of rivals Liverpool. The German manager lamented the club’s issues, describing the performance as “embarrassing, disappointing, maybe even humiliating.” Just a month later, Rangnick left United with a win percentage of just 38 and on 58 Premier League points, the club’s worst tally in history.
Despite the Manchester United debacle, Rangnick has discovered newfound success with the Austria national team. Appointed during the final weeks of his tenure at Old Trafford, he has made an immediate impact, guiding Austria to Euro 2024 qualification with relative ease. The team won six of their eight games in Group F, finishing just a point behind Belgium and ten clear of Sweden.
Since securing qualification, Rangnick’s Austria has continued to impress, defeating Euro 2024 hosts Germany, Slovakia, and Turkey in international friendlies. He has now won 12 of his 20 games in charge, a win rate of 60 per cent that is a significant improvement on his record at United.
Given Rangnick’s success on the international stage, it comes as no surprise that he has once again become a subject of interest at club level. With Bayern Munich bidding farewell to Julian Nagelsmann at the end of the season, Rangnick emerged as a rumored name to replace his compatriot. However, Rangnick has recently downplayed these rumors, emphasizing his commitment to Austria and their ambitions at Euro 2024.
Austria’s task at Euro 2024 is far from easy, with Poland, the Netherlands, and France all tough opponents in Group D. However, it could still prove to be a memorable tournament for them under Rangnick, who has shown he can still compete at the top level despite the difficulties he faced at Manchester United.
