Always calm and not inclined to flatter himself, Ralf Rangnick He chose to use irony to highlight what is perhaps the masterpiece of his career on the bench. In a group with France, Netherlands and Polandthe Austrian team he manages, surprised almost everyone and finished first, earning the label of revelation of the Eurocup for its showy and offensive play. “Whoever bet on us as leaders will have become rich,” said the German coach, laughing, a renowned master of coaches who until this tournament had never felt the recognition from the general public that his pupils had shown him.
Considered the ideologue of the counter pressa football philosophy based on collective work and quick transitions, the German acted as a mentor to other compatriot coaches who raised his model to become a champion. In the world of football He is recognized as the architect and the great influence behind which the great achievements of his works were based. studentsespecially in the triennium of Champions who consecutively conquered the Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, Hansi Flick’s Bayern and Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea between 2019 and 2021.
Even so, despite the acknowledged success of his model, he had never managed to make it work at full capacity in one of his teams in the elite of football. Until the showcase of the European Championship in Germany arrived. At 66 years of age, he has found in the national team of the Central European country the perfect ecosystem for make your method work on a big stage. So much so that last May he trusted “his instinct” and rejected an offer from Bayern Munich to remain linked to Austria. An instinct that, judging by the sensations his team has been giving so far in the tournament, is working at full capacity.
“Collective aggression to press and steal the ball”summed up the basic principles of the game as the Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzerperhaps the most recognizable name in a team without big stars (David Alaba is injured) but that shines in the continental tournament with a brave and attractive proposal. A team that has excited an entire country by being vertical and aggressive, and in which speculation is not allowed, whatever the score. A priori, it could be described as kamikazebut it has behind almost 30 years of trial and error until reaching what could be considered its zenith.
Ideologist of the Red Bull method
Because Rangnick is not exactly a rookie on the bench. He began his career in the Stuttgart youth teamsbut it was not until he took the reins of the Ulm in 1997 when he began to lay the foundations of the counter press, promoting the team to the Bundesliga for the first time in its history. Years later, he also moved up to Hannover 96, a job that helped him sign for the Schalke.
He ended up leaving both clubs for Problems with the directives and returned to modest football, taking charge of the club of a town of just over 3,200 inhabitants, the Hoffenheimwhich he also led to the Bundesliga for the first time. But again, problems with the management took him off the track.
Until Red Bull crossed his path. In 2006, Dietrich Mateschitzco-owner of the energy drink company, followed the advice of Franz Beckenbauer and bought Leipzig and Salzburginvesting more than 200 million. His ultimate goal was to create an infrastructure like a school that would function as a production chain for players. To achieve this, he placed his trust in Rangnick in 2012, who took on the role of sporting and general director of both clubs.
As an executive he led Red Bull Bull’s football network to surpass the 270 million euros in profits from transfers of young people he bet on when they were nobody and they made a name for themselves until they were sold. The most recognized is that of Erling Haalandcurrent City striker, but the list also includes other big names such as Joshua Kimmich, Timo Werner and Naby Keita.
Failure at United and redemption in Austria
At Leipzig he combined his position as sporting director with that of coach in two stages. In the first, in the 2015/2016 season, he managed to promote the club to the Bundesliga and in the second, In 2018/2019, he finished third and reached the Cup final. Results that aroused the interest of the Manchester Unitedwho in the 2020/2021 season turned to the German mid-season, in an adventure that barely lasted a few months.
Rangnick didn’t gel in Manchester, but still Austria She turned to him to stop being a mediocre and unrecognizable selection. After being defeated in the play-off for the World Cup in Qatar, the federation of the Central European country decided to change course and Fire the German Franco Fodacoach from 2018 to 2022, during a period in which he was characterized by playing a defensive, austere and unattractive style of football that also rarely brought good results. Quite the opposite of what has happened since Rangnick’s arrival.
Six of the players who participated in the historic victory over Holland (3-2) They went through Leipzig, Salzburg or their subsidiary, Liefering and are have been familiar with the Red Bull method since childhood. CWith their help Rangnick has implemented in the selection: Prassthe right back; Seiwald, the central midfielder; Schmidauthor of 2-2; Baumgartnerthe 3-2 assist interior; LaimerBayern midfielder; and Sabitzerwho scored the goal that gave the Central European country first place in the Group.
Now, Austria is enjoying the fact that it made the right choice in what was considered a brave decision at the time. Renowned for its eye-catching game, it also earned the ‘benefit’ of going down the seemingly easier side of the draw after being beaten by the all-powerful France. If it beats Turkey in the round of 16 on Tuesday, it would face the winner of the match between Romania and the Netherlands in a hypothetical quarter-final, whom it already defeated less than a week ago. At least it has already earned the right to dream.
2024-07-02 07:19:04
#Professor #Rangnick #Red #Bull #method #send #Austria #soaring #European #Championship
