Ralf Rangnick is set to take over as United manager until at least the end of the season. The German coach is currently the sporting director of Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League. Rangnick is hailed as one of the Godfathers of German football and the creator of ‘gegenpressing’, a style of play most recognizable under Jurgen Klopp.
Ralf Rangnick’s appointment has sort of come out of no where. Reports were all about Zidane, Pochettino, and even Conte at one point. Some of those names may still be set to take charge in the summer, but Rangnick’s appointment has come as a pleasant surprise to many. I for one, as a United fan, am ecstatic with this decision and absolutely shocked that some rational thinking must’ve occurred within the United board. With all of that said, I’m sure many United fans are somewhat unaware of who Ralf Rangnick is or at least unsure as to why he’s hailed by so many. So, let’s find out who this Godfather of Deutsch Fussball is!
Beginnings
Ralf Rangnick began his managerial career at the young age of 25 in 1983. He would later be hired as the manager of Ulm 1846, his club as a player. Rangnick would then go on to manage VFB Stuttgart and Hannover 96. He saw some success with all three of his first clubs, but had yet to reach his true fame. In 2006 he took over Hoffenheim and promoted them from the German second division to the Bundesliga. Then Rangnick went to manage Schalke where he would win a DFB Pokal, reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, and finished 3rd in the Bundesliga.
Shortly after his success with Schalke, Rangnick would take over as essentially the ‘head’ of everything for RB Sports Klub. Rangnick was in charge of not only Leipzig but also Salzburg. The German increased the market value of RB Sports Klub immensely. He generated one of the best youth/recruiting systems in the world, and has seen the two clubs become consistent forces within their respective countries. Not only did Rangnick direct almost everything for RB Sports Klub, but he would manage Leipzig in the Bundesliga on two sperate occasions. Rangnick would eventually resign form the club and take over as the sporting director at Lokomotiv Moscow.
Emergence as a Manager
Ralf Rangnick would see immense success with Leipzig, establishing the German side as a perennial contender in the Bundesliga. Rangnick oversaw the recruiting of players like Erling Haaland and Timo Werner. In his first stint as Leipzig manager in 2015/16 he took the club to the Bundesliga securing promotion form the Bundesliga 2. He would then go back to his role as an executive, but would manage the club again in 2018/19. Rangnick’s Leipzig side would finish 3rd in the Bundesliga and reach the final of the DFB Pokal.
Rangnick was extremely successful in his two years as Leipzig manager, especially considering the circumstances. The German worked to set up Red Bull’s youth/recruiting systems. Rangnick would oversee player transfers, and so much more for both Leipzig and Salzburg. Then out of necessity would take over as Leipzig manager on two occasions. He managed his sides to winning seasons both times, working with players for only a season at a time directly. His experiences with Leipzig as a manager show that he’s more than capable of taking over this current Manchester United side midseason and finishing successfully.
Lastly, with regard to his managerial career, let’s just discuss Rangnick’s 2011 season with Schalke 04. As stated previously, Rangnick finished 3rd in the Bundesliga, won the DFB Pokal and reached the UCL semifinals. His Schalke side was known for it’s intense gegenpressing style of play. His side had it’s most notable result with a win over Inter Milan in the UCL quarter finals.
Gegenpressing
What all United fans need to understand before Rangnick takes charge is ‘gegenpressing’. The style of play made famous by Jurgen Klopp but inspired by Ralf Rangnick requires a disciplined and extremely fit 11. I’m sure that Rangnick’s first couple weeks of training will be making sure his team is as fit as possible. United is currently ranked either last or close two in almost all of the important pressing categories. Specifically, United cover less ground than other teams, force turnovers less, and so much more.
Ralf Rangnick’s United may not go on to win anything, but you can be sure his United team will run more than any other team. Gegenpressing is about pressuring the opposing team in their own half, specifically just after they gain procession. This requires the front 3 to work constantly and for the midfielders/defenders to be sure they push forward when needed and attempt to cut of any potential passing lanes out form the back. Rangnick’s sides need to commit, he said “The job of a football manager is to transform this idea of football into the heads, hearts, brains, veins of your players.” Rangnick will have his squad working hard and be sure that his philosophy is integrated into the club before he leaves.
In the image above you see a team pressing high up the pitch, committing fully to gegenpressing. The red squad has a player tight to every opposing player within that teams own half. This means the receiver of any ball is under immense, constant, and immediate pressure. Also, as you can see in the above image again, the pressing team is also under little threat form any counter attack. Gegenpressing means essentially countering a counter. If done so properly and pressure is applied immediately then there is no where for the opposing team to pass, and forward players are more likely to retreat ack to help rather than look to get free over the top. Gegenpressing is complex and difficult to implement, but Ralf Rangnick is the architect of it. I’m excited to see this United squad commit to gegenpressing.
Rangnick is Highly Praised
Ralf Rangnick has obviously inspired so many coaches in Germany and his philosophy has been adopted by many around the world. Managers like Thomas Tuchel, Jurgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann, and even Marcelo Bielsa have taken his philosophy to heart.
Jurgen Klopp recently said, “Unfortunately United now have a very good coach”. The Liverpool manager has also given his take on how gegenpressing works: “Gegenpressing lets you win back the ball nearer to the goal. It’s only one pass away from a really good opportunity. No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good gegenpressing situation, and that’s why it’s so important.” Klopp is a true admirer of Rangnick and that should only be a good sign for United fans.
Finally I’ll just leave you with this. Ralf Rangnick once said, “If you want to increase the speed of your game, you have to develop quicker minds rather than quicker feet”. This man is built different and I’m ecstatic that he will not only manage this United side, but will oversee the clubs future in the coming years as well.
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