Gerhard Milletich, head of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB), speaks during a media round. Photo: Barbara Gindl/APA/dpa. (Source: dpa)
Salzburg (dpa) – Austria’s football president Gerhard Milletich expects numerous changes to the national team after Ralf Rangnick was hired as the new team boss.
“This will not be a comfortable time,” said the head of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) in a media round in Salzburg. “But that’s how it has to be. We need new impetus. If you have the chance to get a man like that, you have to grab it.”
According to the official, the decisive factor in the contract negotiations with the current coach of the Premier League club Manchester United was the possibilities of the national team and not the money. “Everyone has to be aware that a coach will bring changes to Rangnick. We have the potential with the players that we have a real chance to change something,” said Milletich.
The ÖFB President put the financial possibilities of his association at 1:10 compared to Premier League clubs. Rangnick primarily appealed to the potential of the selection around captain David Alaba in order to be successful with her at the 2024 European Championships in Germany. “Qualifying for the EURO is not an issue for him at all, he wants to stir things up in Germany at the EURO,” emphasized Milletich.
The 63-year-old Rangnick signed a two-year contract as team boss on April 29. Should the team qualify for the 2024 European Championship, the contract will be automatically extended by two years until the 2026 World Cup.