Man Utd all over again? Rangnick BLOWS UP Austria

Tom Weber

• Updated: 18 Oct 2024 15:25 BST
• 4 min read

Ralf Rangnick is at the heart of a massive power struggle that is threatening to tear Austrian football apart.

The German joined the Austrian federation in 2022 after an unsuccessful interim stint at Manchester United. On the pitch, Rangnick's time in charge of the senior Austrian men's national team has been an unequivocal success.

His side qualified for Euro 2024, which automatically triggered an extension in his contract until the 2026 World Cup, and played some of the best football at the tournament in Germany.

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In the bygone international break, Austria cruised past Kazakhstan and Erling Haaland's Norway in the Nations League, winning 4-0 and 5-1, respectively. However, behind the scenes, major trouble is brewing.

Power struggle in Austria

As relayed by local outlet Profil, Rangnick is at the heart of a major power struggle in the Austrian federation. Managing directors Bernhard Neuhold and Thomas Hollerer are vying for influence and the head coach has now involved himself in the drama, arguing that this rift is hampering the federation's development.

Rangnick expressed his views during a two-day meeting at the end of August, but because he is siding with Neuhold, the other party involved in the conflict, which enjoys more backing in the federation, has not taken kindly to the 66-year-old poking his nose in the matter.

Johann Gartner, who holds and previously held, several high-ranking positions in Austrian football and politics, criticised Rangnick's presence for the entire duration of the meeting and told him to mind his business. "I did not find it necessary for him to be there for the whole two days," he said.

Rangnick, of course, is known for being very opinionated and this already caused strife during his time at Man Utd and it seems that history is repeating itself, with an unnamed federation member stating that "he opened some peoples' eyes" with his rant at the meeting.

Additionally, the head coach threw his weight behind former player Sebastian Prodl to become the federation's new managing director even though Peter Schottel appears to have already been chosen for the role.

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In response, the aforementioned Gartner grumbled: "That [topic] was not on the agenda at all. Prodl is also a matter of costs. We cannot change an organisation over and over again." He also sharply criticised Rangnick for hiring more and more people.

The coach is said to be on a relatively small salary of €1 million per year, but the outlay on his staff is significantly bigger, with Rangnick having recently hired a personal press officer while also planning to add a personal assistant to his entourage.

"We already gave in for his press lad. The association has to think in business terms, we are not Red Bull," Gartner, who just two years ago expressed his delight at having managed to appoint Rangnick for peanuts, thundered.

The outlet adds that this power struggle is threatening to "drive away" Rangnick, who is growing increasingly frustrated with "the sluggish executive committee and a structure that is not suitable for modern professional football."