Krishnan Sreekumar
Ralf Rangnick set to be announced as Austria manager but will continue Manchester United consultancy role
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick is set to be announced as the new boss of the Austria men’s national team. Despite the imminent appointment, he will continue in his consultancy role with the English club beyond the summer.
The German is set to move upstairs as a consultant until 2024 for the Manchester side at the end of the season when his tenure as interim manager expires. He was appointed late last year by United to steady the shift after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
When quizzed about his links to the Austria job after his side’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea last night, Rangnick refused to answer the question but instead confirmed his intention to stay and continue with his consultancy role with the Red Devils for the next two years.
“What I can tell you and confirm is I will definitely continue with my consultancy role at the end of the season and for the next two years.”
The Premier League giants will see a lot of changes off the pitch beyond the summer, as Rangnick will be replaced by Erik ten Hag of Ajax Amsterdam in the manager’s seat in the dugout at the Theatre of Dreams. He will become the fifth permanent manager of the club since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
“I will continue at the end of the season”
It is said that an announcement from the Austrian FA regarding the imminent appointment could be made soon, after they hold an executive committee meeting so as to give formal approval to the incumbent United boss’ by the board members.
Despite these developments, the 63-year-old said he was looking forward to working as a consultant for the English club and that he could confirm that he will continue at Old Trafford at the end of the season. He revealed that he had spoken with the board about his contract and the profile of his new role.
“I’m very much looking forward to it. We haven’t spoken, Erik and myself, we’ve spoken with the board about the contract and the profile of the job, the content of the consultancy role. That’s why I can confirm I will continue at the end of the season.”
Although the Austrian FA and Rangnick are yet to sign a contract as the final nitty-gritty is still being negotiated, the former RB Leipzig boss is their preferred candidate for the job. Austrian daily Kurier also revealed previously that Austria sporting director Peter Schottel had flown to Manchester to offer Rangnick the job.
Having worked as the director of football for RB Salzburg in the past, the interim manager is familiar with the landscape of Austrian football and could prove to be a good appointment for the national team. Until then, however, his full focus should be on helping his current side finish the season strongly.
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With a host of changes expected in Manchester in the summer, the news about Rangnick’s imminent appointment as Austria manager may take some by surprise. After all, he was always expected to remain as a consultant for United after his tenure as interim manager ended, so it remains to be seen how he will handle both roles now.
Being the manager of a national team does not require your attention throughout the season, and supposedly, the same can be expected in a consultancy role for the Red Devils. Hopefully, the German can do justice to both of his responsibilities and United can benefit from the advice he has to give in his new job description at the club.
