The Red Devils have been on the hunt for a new head coach to steady the ship following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earlier this month, who presided over a disappointing run of five defeats in seven Premier League games.
First-team coach Michael Carrick was placed in charge on a caretaker basis while the club’s hierarchy conducted their managerial hunt and recorded a hard-fought win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday night, as well as a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
The 63-year-old – who only recently took up a role as head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow – is considered to have the experience, tactical acumen and authority required to galvanise a squad in need of confidence and direction.
United’s intention is for Rangnick to manage the side until the end of the season when a new permanent head coach will be appointed, with their top targets all currently in jobs
The likes of PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag are the main names in the frame, though United’s board quickly realised it would be extremely difficult to appoint either manager mid-season and will return in the summer.
Rangnick, meanwhile, made it clear in talks that he wanted to stay at Old Trafford for more than just the next six months and has also been offered a two-year consultancy post once his stint as the interim manager is over.
The German could be in charge for Thursday night’s Premier League game against Arsenal, but that is dependant on whether he receives his working visa in time.
Rangnick is considered one of the most influential football coaches of recent years and the ‘Godfather of gegenpressing’, having greatly influenced the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel.
He won the DFB-Pokal Cup with Schalke in 2011 – the same year they were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by United – and was a huge influence on and off the pitch at RB Leipzig, overseeing promotion to the Bundesliga as manager before switching to director of football. Metro
