Tuesday, July 6th, 2021
Own company, no longer a trainer
Rangnick is drawn to Russia as a consultant
Ralf Rangnick has a new job. The former strong man from the Bundesliga soccer team RB Leipzig founds a soccer consultancy and immediately had his first customer. At Lokomotiv Moscow he becomes the head of sport and development. The 63-year-old is also looking for other clubs.
The Russian first division soccer club Lokomotive Moscow has appointed Ralf Rangnick as head of sport and development for three years. Lok Moscow said that the coaching staff, players and the management of the club had been informed. Rangnick is one of the best experts in the world for training and developing players.
The 63-year-old will deal with a team of specialists on “a whole spectrum of questions, including strategic planning and sporting development”. Rangnick had previously told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that he would found a GmbH for football consultancy and set up his own business.
As his spokesman said, it is an advisory post in Moscow. Rangnick will stay in Russia again and again, but will mainly work from Germany. There is a great demand for training and club structures. Further projects are possible. As early as April it became known that Rangnick had created a sporting and structural concept for the Russian club, but was not interested in a permanent position.
“They also wanted tips on how to plan their squad, and when they saw my plans for self-employment, it has now turned into a solid cooperation,” said Rangnick in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. The Supercup against Saint Petersburg starts right away, on the second day of the match there is already a city derby against CSKA. “Loko” was third in the league recently, so they play in the Europa League. Benedikt Höwedes played there until recently. The main sponsor of the association is the Russian railway.
Wanted more customers
Moscow should not remain the only “customer” for Rangnick. “Two clubs I was recently in negotiations with have indicated to me that working together in my new role could make sense for them,” said Rangnick. More than a maximum of three clubs or associations at the same time is unimaginable for him as a client.
Most recently, Rangnick was discussed as a new strong man at his former club Schalke 04 and AC Milan. He was also traded as the heir to national coach Joachim Loew. In the past year he left the Red Bull empire after eight years in various functions.
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