Manchester United are reportedly set to appoint Ralf Rangnick – a man who has had a huge influence the career of Southampton’s Ralph Hasenhuttl – as their interim manager.
According to a report from the Athletic’s David Ornstein and Laurie Whitwell, Rangnick will arrive at Old Trafford on an initial six-month contract before stepping aside into a two-year consultancy role.
Rangnick is regarded as one of the pioneers of pressing football and his footballing ideals have been replicated by the likes of Ralph Hasenhuttl, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann.
Hasenhuttl and Rangnick worked closely together at RB Leipzig and both proved crucial in overseeing the club’s transition towards becoming an established Bundesliga and Champions League outfit.
Could Hasenhuttl and Rangnick work together again in the future?
As most Southampton fans will realise, Ralph Hasenhuttl has the potential to become a manager at one of Europe’s top clubs if he is able to oversee success at St Mary’s
The pressing style that he plays makes his style of football entertaining when his players play to their full abilities and this will surely have him in the back of director’s minds in England and elsewhere.
Therefore, it is not unreasonable to suggest that Ralf Rangnick will try and rekindle a partnership that was successful in the past when he steps back into his consultancy role at Manchester United.
It is unknown what the relationship between Rangnick and Hasenhuttl is like nowadays, and Hasenhuttl did leave RB Leipzig after becoming frustrated by a lack of long-term plan back in 2018, but the fact that they are linked by footballing ideals and previous work means that a connection is always there.
Hasenhuttl has never been heavily linked with Manchester United himself and has only recently described his job at Southampton as the perfect opportunity for him. United will also be looking to attract a name that has achieved more in the game as they search for their next long-term manager.