2024-04-25 17:19:28
Ralf Rangnick’s possible move to FC Bayern remains the dominant topic in German football. Ex-Bayern star Andreas Herzog has his own opinion on this.
However, he also admitted: “The moment Bayern would say: We want you. Then I have to ask myself: Do I even want that?” This is not a categorical rejection.
Herzog praises the “proven expert” Rangnick
One person who thinks a collaboration between Rangnick and Bayern is certainly possible is Austria’s football idol Andreas Herzog, who played 103 international matches for his home country. “Ten years ago I couldn’t have imagined this, but now I can imagine it very well,” the 55-year-old tells t-online. “Because Ralf Rangnick is a proven expert. He has sparked a real euphoria in Austria and is on a very good path with the national team.”
With this, Rangnick managed to qualify for the European Championship in Germany and defeated the DFB team 2-0 in November 2023. Most recently there was also a 6-1 gala against Turkey.
“His big goal was always to be a German with Austria at the European Championships in Germany,” explains Herzog. Rangnick achieved this through qualification a few months ago. “I could imagine that he might be interested if Bayern came calling,” adds the former Bundesliga professional, who laced up his boots for Bayern in the 1995/96 season. However, he does not know anything about the exact status of the talks.
Is Rangnick the right one for Bayern?
The question remains whether a concept coach like Rangnick, who built clubs in Hoffenheim and Leipzig virtually from scratch and led them to the top of the Bundesliga, would be a good fit for the world club Bayern Munich.
“That’s the big question for me. If a giant club has sporting problems and says: ‘Ralf, rebuild the club’, then he is 100 percent the right person. But Bayern are of course one of the three biggest clubs in Europe in the last 40 “, 50 years,” Herzog points out. “But I would trust him with the task. No question about it,” he concludes.
A statement in Rangnick’s interview with “90 Minutes” also makes you sit up and take notice: “I have a close and trusting relationship with my team. They won’t play better just because I say: I’ll definitely be here for the next four years.” This is quite unusual for a coach who is currently facing a European Championship with his team.
Herzog’s criticism of the ÖFB team’s playing style
“It would of course be bitter for Austria if he were to leave. That would be a big loss,” says the 103-time Austrian national player Herzog.
He doesn’t believe that the team, which is in a preliminary group with France, Poland and the Netherlands at the European Championships, can do miracles, but also with Rangnick: “He’s doing a really great job at the ÖFB. But overall I’m not 100 percent satisfied with Austrian football. Because in recent years we have been really good when the opponent has the ball, but have problems when we have the ball. That’s not necessarily my philosophy.” Herzog believes that the team can be a “dangerous underdog.”
The question still remains as to whether a dual role as Bayern and ÖFB coach would be an option? “I can’t imagine that Bayern Munich would allow this. And as ÖFB, I wouldn’t like this as a permanent solution either,” said Herzog.