Former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has confirmed he will remain in charge of the Austrian national team after holding talks with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
It has been a topsy-turvy season in Bavaria for Thomas Tuchel’s side. Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga, but Bayern Munich still have a chance of reaching the Champions League final.
Tuchel’s future has been in the speculation columns for months, but Bayern have identified Rangnick as a contender to replace the fellow German coach ahead of next season.
Rangnick took over as manager of the Austria national team two years ago after a disappointing spell as interim manager at Old Trafford.
Despite holding talks with Bayern, Rangnick has confirmed that he will stay put ahead of a promising Euro 2024 campaign in his homeland this summer.
“I am the Austrian team boss with all my heart,” Rangnick said, as quoted by BBC Sport. “I would like to expressly emphasise that this is not a rejection of FC Bayern, but rather a decision for my team and our common goals.”
The latest surrounding the Bayern job comes from Viaplay reporter Jan Aage Fjortoft, who claims the Bavarian side will go back to Tuchel and ask him to stay. The feeling is that the former Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and PSG boss will reject the proposal to remain at the Allianz Arena.
Re: New Bayern – coach
After Rangnick‘s NO, I think Bayern will go back to Tuchel and ask him to stay.
And he will say NO
— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) May 2, 2024
Rangnick is careful enough not to tarnish his relationship with Bayern. He never knows what will happen when he leaves Austria, but it’s clear there’s belief in his side to have a decent Euros when the domestic season ends.
The news was welcomed by Austrian federation president, Klaus Mitterdorfer, who said (via Irish Independent): “We are very pleased with Ralf Rangnick’s decision and the clear commitment to a future together.
“We have always been very confident that the heart and the team spirit, but also the creative possibilities, are very good arguments. Together, we will now go into the Euros even stronger.”
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