Ralf Rangnick will remain as head coach of the Austrian men’s national team and will not take charge of Bayern Munich.
Rangnick previously said he was in talks with Bayern to replace Thomas Tuchel, who is set to leave the Bundesliga at the end of this season.
However, the 65-year-old confirmed on Thursday that he will remain with Austria as Bayern were surprised by Rangnick’s decision after believing they could deliver what he was looking for in his next role.
“I am the Austrian team manager with all my heart,” said Rangnick. “I really enjoy this project and am determined to continue on the path we have chosen.
“I especially want to emphasize that this is not a rejection of FC Bayern, but a decision for my team and our common goals.” Our full focus is on the EC. We will do everything we can to get as far as possible!”
I don’t know where Bayern go from here. Rangnick would have been helpful in the sense that he would have allowed them to reform while waiting for the coaching market to open up.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) May 2, 2024
Rangnick, who spent seven months in interim charge of Manchester United in the 2021-22 season, will lead Austria at the upcoming European Championship in Germany. His team finished second behind Belgium in Group F and ahead of Sweden, winning six of their eight games, meaning his contract with the Austrian Football Association (OFB) was automatically extended until the 2026 World Cup. They face France, Poland and the Netherlands in group D.
“We are extremely pleased with his decision,” added OFB sporting director Peter Schottel. “We understood that he had two very attractive options and gave him time to consider everything calmly.” We are proud that he chose Austria.”
Following the news that Rangnick was in the frame for the Bayern job, the club’s supporters called for Tuchel to be kept instead for the terms of his contract, which was set to run until June 2025.
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However, Bayern saw their 11-year run as champions end last month as Bayer Leverkusen secured the German title, while the Munich club also lost the German Super Cup to RB Leipzig and exited the DFB-Pokal in the second round after defeat to the third tier. FC Saarbrucken earlier this season.
However, Bayern remain in the Champions League and will travel to Real Madrid next week in the second leg of their semi-final after Tuesday’s first leg ended 2-2 in Germany.
Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso was himself a candidate for the role before committing his future to the champions, while former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked in March 2023, signed a new deal to remain with Germany last month.
Rangnick previously managed Hannover, Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig and also took little-known German side Ulm to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history at the start of this century. He has also had success as a football manager. He held that role for both Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig from 2012 onwards, during a brief stint as manager at Leipzig.
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How Ralf Rangnick transformed Austria and brought them to Euro 2024
(Ronny Hartmann/AFP via Getty Images)
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