Rangnick confirmed as interim Man Utd manager ahead of consultancy
Rangnick will be "supporting the club’s longer-term goals on a consultancy basis" from next season
Written by Simon Austin — November 29, 2021
RALF RANGNICK has been appointed as Manchester United’s interim manager to the end of the season, with a further two years to follow in a “consultancy role”.
The German, 63, has left his role as Director of Sports and Development at Lokomotiv Moscow to take up the position at Old Trafford. He replaces Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked as manager following the Premier League defeat by Watford nine days ago.
His move is “subject to work visa requirements” and Manchester United Football Director John Murtough said: “Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football.
“He was our number one candidate for interim manager, reflecting the invaluable leadership and technical skills he will bring from almost four decades of experience in management and coaching. Everyone at the club is looking forward to working with him during the season ahead, and then for a further two years in his advisory role.”
Rangnick, who has been a coach for four decades and who has led transformational change at outfits including Hoffenheim and Red Bull, added: “I am excited to be joining Manchester United and focused on making this a successful season for the club.
“The squad is full of talent and has a great balance of youth and experience. All my efforts for the next six months will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team. Beyond that, I look forward to supporting the club’s longer-term goals on a consultancy basis.”
Michael Carrick will remain in charge of the first team until Rangnick’s work visa is finalised and assistants Kieran McKenna, Mike Phelan, Martyn Pert and Richard Hartis will also stay on.
United added: “The club wishes to place on record its thanks to Lokomotiv Moscow for their co-operation in the process of bringing Ralf to Manchester United.”
The appointment of Rangnick as a consultant is interesting, because in March United promoted John Murtough to Football Director and Darren Fletcher to Technical Director.
At the time, United said Murtough would provide “overall leadership and responsibility for operations and strategy across all football functions” and “work day-to-day with Ole to align recruitment and other strategies and to ensure that the first team has the best-in-class operational support it needs to succeed.”
Fletcher, who played more than 340 matches for the club, was to offer "technical advice across all aspects of the football department" as well as "contributing to the communication and delivery of our football philosophy across all areas of the club."
Murtough joined United in November 2013 from the Premier League, where he was Head of Elite Performance, and had the title of Head of Football Development before his promotion.
