Austria’s football association has pulled off a coup by hiring Ralf Rangnick as the new team boss. With the German, the ÖFB is facing many changes, association president Gerhard Milletich knows. “It won’t be a comfortable time. But it has to be like that. We need new impetus. If you have the chance to get a man like that, you have to grab it,” said the ÖFB President.
Rangnick is considered a consistent worker and uncompromising advocate of his path. “Everyone must be aware that a coach will bring changes to Rangnick. We have the potential with the players that we have a real chance to change something,” explained Milletich at a press conference on Monday in Salzburg as a guest of Sports Media Austria, the Association of Austrian Sports Journalists.
“The potential appealed to him”
According to the ÖFB President, money was not the decisive criterion for Rangnick. Milletich put the ÖFB’s financial possibilities at 1:10 compared to English Premier League clubs. Rather, Rangnick stimulated the potential that he apparently sees in Alaba and Co. to be successful at “his” home European Championship 2024 in Germany. In any case, the 63-year-old sets the bar high, Milletich said. “Qualifying for the EURO is not an issue for him at all, he wants to stir things up in Germany at the EURO.”
The fact that the ÖFB nevertheless dared to approach the German experts despite the limited financial resources is largely due to Christoph Freund. The current sports director of champions Red Bull Salzburg, for whom Rangnick paved the way to success as sports director from 2012 to 2015, saw opportunities.
Four top games at the beginning
“14 days before the decision was made, there was an appointment with the presidency to check who was eligible. One of the names was Rangnick. I said that normally we would not be able to hire someone who works at Manchester United and his salary is appropriate. I was encouraged by Christoph Freund that it could work. Freund communicated what our options are. I was a bit incredulous, but there were intensive discussions,” Milletich described.
When ÖFB sports director Peter Schöttel traveled to England, he had not yet come into contact with Rangnick, as was rumored. The fact that none of the Austrian coaches who are currently enjoying international success was due to their unavailability, said Milletich.
Rangnick will start his job at ÖFB on May 29th preparing for the Nations League. With games against world champion France, vice world champion Croatia and Denmark, with which the ÖFB team has not had good experiences recently, there are equally difficult tasks ahead. “Four tough top games will be very challenging, also for the team boss. It’s important to use this phase so that the new team boss gets to know the team. After the four games he will know how the team is doing,” said Milletich .
Source: Nachrichten
