When the Austrian Football Association’s sporting director, Peter Schöttel, mustered the courage to make perhaps the most important call of his tenure, he was in his car on the motorway, making his way to a game.
It was spring 2022 – and turbulent. Austria had failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, finishing a disappointing fourth behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel. They had another chance through the Nations League playoffs but lost 2-1 to Wales in their semi‑final. The brief euphoria of the delayed Euro 2020, where they were narrowly beaten by the eventual champions, Italy, in the last 16, was long gone. Schöttel needed to take action.
“I just made the call,” Schöttel recalled on the podcast Von Spiel zu Spiel. He was looking for a new coach, mainly considering candidates who had worked in the Red Bull stable. He got a number from Christoph Freund, who was then the sporting director at RB Salzburg and is now with Bayern Munich. Schöttel dialled and somewhere in Manchester Ralf Rangnick picked up.
Rangnick was the interim manager of Manchester United. His time there wasn’t particularly successful. The desired Champions League spot was missed and in April it was announced that Erik ten Hag would take over in the summer. Rangnick was supposed to remain in an advisory role, but instead he became Austria’s head coach.
“It was a very good first conversation, although he was very stressed,” Schöttel said. He quickly learned what it was like to work with Rangnick. The German is known for being goal-oriented and focused in a positive sense, perhaps stubborn and unyielding in a negative sense. Schöttel needed a coach immediately: the Nations League was coming up with matches against France, Denmark and Croatia. “Can’t someone else do it?” Rangnick reportedly asked Schöttel. He requested some time to think.
Two years later, we know what Rangnick decided. On Monday he will lead Austria into his first major tournament as a national team coach, taking on France in Düsseldorf. During his tenure he has made a significant impact. Rangnick has brought a style of football that the country has long been waiting for – and much more.
But what has the man from the small town of Backnang in south‑west Germany done to brighten Austria’s position on Europe’s football map? How has someone who never played professional football given a country dreams it never dared to dream? And how did a German, of all people, win Austria’s hearts?
First, there’s the football. Rangnick’s philosophy fits perfectly with Austria’s team. Quick transitions, ball-oriented spatial coverage, pressing and counterpressing until the opponent cracks. Rangnick’s currency is stress – stress for the opponent and clarity of action. Players know their roles and what they need to do. Rangnick wants players who make quick, ideally correct, decisions and stick to them. Uncertainty leads to losing the ball.
Austria have perfected this. A midfield with Xaver Schlager (who is out of the Euros with a knee injury), Nicolas Seiwald, Konrad Laimer and Marcel Sabitzer has excelled and the striker Michael Gregoritsch continuously stresses defenders in their buildup play. Above all, Rangnick has instilled a sense of confidence and a winning mentality.
Austria had a strong qualification campaign and secured impressive friendly wins against Germany (2-0) and Turkey (6-1). However, Rangnick brought much more than victories; he brought clarity and a professionalism Austria weren’t necessarily accustomed to. Rangnick introduced his own staff, including media advisers and analysts. He brought fresh air to an association that had long struggled with entrenched structures. It’s a mix of looseness and uncompromising clarity of vision.
He also introduced a sports philosophy that was new to the country. Rangnick said in an interview that you can celebrate success “for a day or two, but then you have to look forward again”. In Austria, we still talk about the miracle of Córdoba, when the team beat Germany at the 1978 World Cup. Many fans today weren’t born then. Rangnick pulled Austria out of its love for the past – with him it is always forward, always more, always faster, go, go, go.
This might sound arduous and serious. But Rangnick doesn’t come across as an aloof, success‑at‑all-costs, hedge fund manager. He strikes a balance between professionalism and a human touch. His appearances on comedy TV shows and in music videos have created a connection with fans without drifting into farce or clownishness.
In interviews, he speaks openly about his approach to society, his past and future. You won’t find cliches, even in post-match interviews. This is not something Austria is used to. Time and again, Rangnick has demonstrated his intuition for players and team dynamics, for example by taking the injured David Alaba to Germany as a non-playing captain and part of the staff. Alaba’s influence on the team has since been evident. It is a close‑knit group.
Did everyone expect this? Not necessarily. From Rangnick’s time as sporting director at Salzburg and Leipzig there were perceptions that he was stubborn, remote and a control freak. Privately, there was speculation about how difficult it could be.
His record, especially at Red Bull, spoke for him, though. Salzburg have dominated Austrian football, becoming serial champions, and achieved success in Europe. Rangnick was instrumental in this, having implemented a transfer and playing philosophy that the country’s other teams struggled against.
“The advantage of clubs like Salzburg, Hoffenheim and Leipzig is that there are no legends who want to add their two cents,” Rangnick said in an interview with the website ballesterer. Yet he also understands the other side well: “I am the biggest football romantic you can imagine. The first game I saw as head coach was in Lustenau against Salzburg, 4,500, sold out. Every corner of this stadium smelled of football, of sausages, of everything. It was pure football. I love that.”
This spring Austria fans were shocked when Bayern approached Rangnick – but he turned them down. This was seen either as a declaration of love for Austria or a pragmatic choice, given his established support there. Additionally, managing a national team is less intense, something that is important for Rangnick after his 2011 burnout.
Austria’s players respect him. Despite the absences of Alaba and Schlager, the team have built immense self-confidence. The fans respect him too, seemingly impressed by the big football world that he has brought.
It is a synergy that promises success. And even in the worst‑case scenario, Austria’s public will probably forgive failure.
