Ralf Rangnick is in the running to become Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director in the summer, according to German media.
The 66-year-old seemed to have found a perfect new job when he took over the Austrian national team in 2022. He transformed a team known for underperformance into a fluid and entertaining squad that qualified for Euro 2024.
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Austria under Ralf Rangnick
| Matches | Wins Draw | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 |
When it became clear that Austria would participate in the championship in Germany, Rangnick’s contract was automatically extended until the 2026 World Cup. But now it looks like he may not complete the deal.
In October 2024, reports emerged from Austria that revealed a strained relationship between Rangnick and the federation. The direct national team manager is said to have become increasingly unpopular with the management because he interfered in matters they believed did not concern him.
In addition, he was accused of having built up an unnecessarily large apparatus that burdened the association’s limited finances.
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Rangnick to Dortmund?
According to BILD, Rangnick could resign from his job in Austria due to the constant conflicts with management – and he is now one of the candidates for a key role at Dortmund.
When Dortmund fired head coach Nuri Sahin this winter, Rangnick was offered the job, but he turned it down. Now the club is considering whether he could be a good fit as sporting director.
The role is currently held by legendary ex-player Sebastian Kehl, who extended his contract until 2027 in January. However, due to the team’s weak performance, the club feels that big changes are necessary for the summer.
Dortmund have received strong criticism, especially from their own fans, for filling important positions with people who were either already at the club or had previous connections to it.
The German term “Stallgeruch” (literally “stall-smell”) has been used spitefully to describe Dortmund’s practice of hiring people who “smell familiar”.
Now there is a growing feeling that the club needs new impulses from outside – someone who is not afraid to make radical changes. The confrontational but experienced and successful Rangnick is seen as an ideal candidate.
Rangnick once famously stated that Manchester United needed “open-heart surgery” to be fixed – which later turned out to be absolutely correct. If he takes over at Dortmund, he will probably come to the same conclusion there.
As for the coaching role, Rangnick is not expected to combine it with managing the team. Some in Dortmund believe that Niko Kovač has done enough to deserve to stay, but there is a consensus that they should let him go if they do not qualify for Europe.
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There is a clause in Kovač’s contract that allows Dortmund to sack him for a reduced compensation if they do not make it to European games. A new coach must be in place before the Club World Cup – perhaps chosen by Rangnick himself.
