Ralf Rangnick to remain Austrian football coach after World Cup

Ralf Rangnick will remain the head coach of the Austrian national football team, extending his tenure beyond the upcoming World Cup. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) announced that Rangnick's contract will automatically be renewed if the team qualifies for the UEFA European Championship in 2028.

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I am very pleased that we can present this great news to our fans shortly before the start of the World Cup. The clarity created now is of great importance, especially for the team.

Rangnick, 67, has been in charge of the Austrian team since the summer of 2022. During his leadership, the team successfully qualified for both the Euro 2024 tournament and the current World Cup. Austria is scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign against Jordan early Wednesday morning (MESZ).

Josef Pröll, the Chairman of the ÖFB's Supervisory Board, expressed his satisfaction with the contract extension, stating, "I am very pleased that we can present this great news to our fans shortly before the start of the World Cup." He emphasized that the clarity provided by the extension is crucial for the team's morale and focus.

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It is clear that the ÖFB cannot compete financially with international top clubs. It was, and I want to emphasize this explicitly, also other factors that convinced Ralf Rangnick.

Financial backing from sponsors made the contract extension possible, creating an "attractive and economically viable overall package for the next two years." Pröll acknowledged that the ÖFB cannot compete financially with top international clubs, highlighting that other factors convinced Rangnick to stay. Rangnick reportedly turned down an offer from Italian club AC Milan, indicating the project's significance to him. Pröll described Rangnick's commitment as a "true matter of the heart."

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That he decided for Austria and his team shows what significance this project has for him.