Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as their interim manager for the remainder of the season.
The 63 year old has agreed to take the helm at Old Trafford until the end of the 2021-22 campaign, after which he will serve as a consultant for two more years. Though United have reached a full agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow over Rangnick’s move to the Premier League they are so far yet to complete the formalities that come with securing a work permit for the German.
In the meantime Michael Carrick will remain in charge and could yet be in the dugout for Thursday’s Premier League game against Arsenal. It is, however, only a matter of when Rangnick takes command of the club.
“I am excited to be joining Manchester United and focused on making this a successful season for the club,” said Rangnick. “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.”
As a consultant Rangnick will be expected to modernize a club whose playing style and approach to recruitment have at times seemed to be outdated in the modern game with former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doing little to instill an overarching football philosophy during his near three year reign.
No one could accuse Rangnick for being short on ideas over how the game should be played and United are expected to transition to the high pressing approach that the veteran coach helped define as the dominant playing style in the Bundesliga.
“Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football,” said United’s football director John Murtagh. “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.”