Former Leipzig coach and sports director Ralf Rangnick is pictured prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, first-leg football match between RB Leipzig and Manchester City in Leipzig, eastern Germany on February 22, 2023. (Photo by Ronny Hartmann / AFP) (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images)
Over the past few days, circulating rumors claimed Ralf Rangnick could return to Manchester United in a brand new role, but Christian Falk has been quick to discharge this story.
The Red Devils have recently parted ways with their sporting director Dan Ashworth, just five months following his arrival at Carrington. Therefore, there has been some speculations over the profile who will replace the 53-year-old, with Rangnick’s name surfacing on the scene.
The 66-year-old has almost four decades of experience in managing football clubs. He has served as a head coach and as director. He even held these two roles simultaneously during his stint at RB Leipzig.
The Austrian also had a brief tenure at Old Trafford as an interim coach. He took over in December 2021 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, and remained in his post until the end of the season, before making way for Erik ten Hag.
Man United didn’t contact Ralf Rangnick over new role
Rangnick is currently serving as head coach for the Austrian national team, but it seems that his relationship with the local federation has become frosty which could soon spell the end of his tenure.
In his latest column for The Daily Briefing, German journalist Christian Falk doesn’t deny the frictions between Rangnick and the Austrian FA, but he doesn’t expect it to lead the manager back to Old Trafford.
The Bundesliga insider insists there hasn’t been any contact between the experienced manager and the Man United hierarchy.
Moreover, other sources had ruled out the arrival of a new sporting director, expecting Ashworth’s task to be divided among CEO Omar Berrada and some of the club’s other top officials.
