Bundesliga News

Reports:
Schalke offer Ralf Rangnick sporting director position

By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

While German footballing magazine Kicker emphasizes that there is no agreement in place yet, sources at SportBild and Germany's Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung currently report that FC Schalke have offered Ralf Rangnick a five-year-contract to serve as the club's sporting director. 
Ralf Rangnick.
Ralf Rangnick.Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
According to some reports, Ralf Rangnick has been tendered a generous offer to assume the reins at FC Schalke 04 for what could be the final project of a long and storied sporting career. The 62-year-old, who has twice served as trainer for the Königsblauen, has never made a secret of his fondness for the club. 


Rangnick's name briefly surfaced for the vacant trainer position after David Wagner's dismal earlier in the season and again when the Gelsenkircheners parted company with Manuel Baum ten matches later. Rangnick was said to be unimpressed with the club's managerial structure and could not be convinced that he would be granted sufficient autonomy in administrative decision-making processes. 

Insiders at German footballing magazine Kicker note that it precisely this issue of control on which the negotiations presently hinge. Schalke's new managerial team, led by executive Peter Knäbel, have gone to great lengths to woo the former RB Leipzig and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim head-coach. The club's board wishes to give Rangnick total authority to reshape the organization as the lone sporting director.

Sources at Germany's BildZeitung report that Rangnick is quite amenable to taking on the project of restoring a historic club after successfully guiding newcomers like Hoffenheim and Leipzig. Kicker notes that the Schalke management group currently lobby very hard with promises that Rangnick will not be hindered or shackled in any way. 


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