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Nine days ago, Ralf Rangnick left his position as sporting director and head coach at RB Leipzig to become the head of soccer development at Red Bull itself.
Already an influential figure in German football, he had spent most of the past decade working with RB Salzburg — yes, technically that’s Austria — and RB Leipzig, sometimes coaching, sometimes managing, sometimes directing, all the time fixing, and now he will be doing something similar on a more global scale, working with teams in New York (NY Red Bulls), Brazil (RB Bragantino), and Leipzig still, if needed.
It’s a move that excites him very much, he claims, and one that he’s been looking forward to for some time. He intends to help build a global soccer empire, fueled by Red Bull.
“During the winter break, I was thinking on vacation what will come after the season. From this, the idea has matured to take over a function for all football locations. The idea of developing the other locations has long been very appealing to me.
“[Leipzig chairman] Oliver [Mintzlaff] and I then talked about it and finally convinced that it makes sense to take on this role, which I am very, very happy about. Much of what has happened in Leipzig in recent years has to do with the structures we have created. This is what I imagine in future in New York and Brazil, to eventually produce regular players such as Tyler Adams. We want to create synergy effects between the locations from which, above all, RB Leipzig can benefit and develop further. That is the goal.
“This vision has a great appeal for me - above all, in order to catch up with other clubs on an international level as well. There will be a regular exchange with the sports directors and coaches of all clubs and I will get involved with words and deeds. In New York and Brazil, we want to set up a scouting network and create new junior academies to develop top players who will then make their way to Europe and, ideally, to RB Leipzig.
“But now, together with Markus Krösche and Julian Nagelsmann, it is important to push ahead with the cadre planning in Leipzig. Leipzig will also remain my center of life and I will continue to live here. In New York and Brazil, I will first get an overview of the current situation and then make the appropriate suggestions for improvements.”
-Ralf Rangnick; source: RB Leipzig via Google Translate
This man bleeds Red Bull.
This man does not sound like he “could be tempted by a move to the Premier League”, as the Daily Mail claim working off of a report from BILD Sport, even if Chelsea could very much benefit from a similar global vision.
Next!
Our story today: @ChelseaFC is interested in Ralf Rangnick (last Season Coach of @DieRotenBullen) @BILD_Sport
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) June 13, 2019