The Soccer Dispatch

The Soccer Dispatch

🇦🇹 How Ralf Rangnick revitalised Austria as a team and a football nation

Rangnick rejected Bayern Munich to lead Das Team at this summer's Euro 2024!

Graham Ruthven's avatar
Graham Ruthven
May 02, 2024
∙ Paid

After a while, it became clear Ralf Rangnick didn’t want to be at Manchester United - and they didn’t want him to be there either.

Hired to point the Old Trafford club in the right direction again after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the legendary German coach credited with pioneering the concept of ‘Gegenpressing’ was ultimately marginalised in the Premier League.


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In his new job, though, Rangnick has been a transformative influence.

Indeed, Austria could be dark horses at Euro 2024 with the 65-year-old in charge - especially now that Rangnick has rejected the chance to take over at Bayern Munich.

Before Rangnick, Austria were playing boring football in half-empty stadiums. The country had fallen out of love with its own national team. 

Now, though, Das Team are at their strongest - and most entertaining - in a generation. How has Rangnick done it?

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