Ralf Rangnick to remain Austria boss, turns down Bayern Munich job

ANKARA

Ralf Rangnick, a former Manchester United manager, will keep coaching the Austrian national football team as he said no to Bayern Munich.

"I am the Austrian team boss with all my heart," Rangnick said on Thursday to ensure his stay for the UEFA EURO 2024 campaign in June and July.

"I really enjoy this task and am determined to successfully continue on our chosen path," he added.

The 65-year-old said they are focused on the EURO 2024 to fulfill Austria's goals in this summer's tournament in Germany.

"I would like to expressly emphasize that this is not a rejection of FC Bayern, but rather a decision for my team and our common goals. Our full concentration is on the European Championships. We will do everything we can to get as far as possible!," he added.

Bayern Munich have been looking for a new head coach as Thomas Tuchel is leaving the Bundesliga club at the end of this season.

This season, Munich upset their fans as they lost the 2024 Bundesliga title to Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen won their first-ever title to end Bayern's 11-year run.

Austrian football body chair Klaus Mitterdorfer said they are "very pleased" about Rangnick's decision to stay.

Rangnick won a German Cup in 2011 with Schalke 04 and secured two Austrian Bundesliga titles with Red Bull Salzburg in 2014 and 2015.

He was Man Utd's caretaker manager in the 2021-22 before being hired by Austria in the 2022 summer.

Austria will face the Netherlands, France, and Poland in EURO 2024 Group D.

On June 17, Austria will first play against France, who won the European Championship in 1984 and 2000. France were also the 2016 finalists.

The EURO 2024, which is going to be held in Germany, will begin on June 14.

Before 2024, Austria appeared in three editions of EURO: 2008 (as co-hosts), 2016, and 2020.

In the EURO 2020, Austria reached Round of 16, their best in the European Championship history.