Kimmich backs Rangnick for Bayern job: "He's capable of anything"

With Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann out of the running, Austria coach Ralf Rangnick has emerged as the favorite to replace Thomas Tuchel as Bayern Munich coach this summer.

One player in the Bayern squad who knows Rangnick well is Joshua Kimmich, who was brought to RB Leipzig when the 65-year-old was sporting director.

And while Kimmich hasn't played under Rangnick as a coach, he's confident that Rangnick has what it takes to coach Bayern.

"I think he's capable of anything if you look at his past - and what he's done and achieved in his previous job. He was extremely important for me because he brought me to Leipzig in the third league. I was injured at the time with a pubic bone inflammation, but Ralf gave me the time to get fit - so I could perform at the highest level," Kimmich told TZ (via iMiaSanMia), adding:

“When I came to Bayern, Ralf Rangnick had taken over as coach in Leipzig and I still had a lot of contact with the team. They all said he was a great coach, regardless of his tactical ideas. They all had nothing but positive things to say about him, just like the guys in the Austrian national team now.”

In a separate interview with Spanish outlet AS, Kimmich was asked how important it is for his future to know who will succeed Tuchel as Bayern coach.

“Of course it is a very interesting question for me. But it is not the most important thing for me at the moment. I know that when you sign a contract, you don't sign it with the coach. You sign it with the club. For me as a player, the most important thing is the club, not just the coach. But of course it is also important to know what the coach thinks about you and the team. We have some people at the club who take care of that.”

Kimmich's contract expires in 2025.