Ralf Rangnick has been appointed Manchester United interim manager until the end of the season.
The 63-year-old’s contract will see him oversee the first team until June and then remain at the club for at least a further two years in a consultancy role.
United reached an agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow last week for the release of Rangnick, who was manager of sports and development at the Russian club.
He will take the reins from Michael Carrick who was in temporary charge of the team for last week’s 2-0 Champions League win over Villarreal and Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Premier League.
United are planning to make a permanent appointment at the end of the season and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is their first choice, with Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag also in their thinking.
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Rangnick oversaw the rise of the Red Bull group of clubs in Europe as head coach and sporting director of RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.
The German is credited with having influenced Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann among many others.
Rangnick invented the ‘gegenpress’, which translates as ‘counter-press’; the high-pressing, all-out running style adopted to great fame by the current Liverpool boss Klopp.
More to follow…
Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures
December 2: Arsenal (h) – Premier League, kick-off 8.15pm
December 5: Crystal Palace (h) – Premier League, kick-off 2pm
December 8: Young Boys (h) – Champions League, kick-off 8pm
December 11: Norwich (a) – Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports
Rooney: Rangnick will bring ‘stability’
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, has backed Rangnick to bring “stability” back to Old Trafford and challenge for trophies this season.
“He is obviously very highly respected in the game,” Rooney, now the manager at Derby, said.
“I think he has got a tough job to come in, I don’t mean in terms of his ability [but] in terms of to come in for six months and stamp his way of playing, his pressing if you like and how he likes to work.
“But he is very experienced and I am sure he will adapt to the players he has got and bring back some stability to the team, but also with a view of trying to win trophies.
“That Manchester United team is more than capable of winning trophies this season and I think they have made the right appointment to give themselves the best chance.”