Ralf Rangnick

Football manager infobox
playername= Ralf Rangnick


height = height|m=1.81
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|6|29
cityofbirth = Backnang
countryofbirth = West Germany
currentclub = 1899 Hoffenheim
position = Manager "(formerly Defensive Midfielder)"
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years =
clubs = VfB Stuttgart II
Southwick
VfR Heilbronn
SSV Ulm 1846
Victoria Backnang
TSV Lippoldsweiler
caps(goals) =
manageryears = 1983–1985
1987–1988
1988–1990
1995–1996
1997–1999
1999–2001
2001–2004
2004–2005
2006–
managerclubs = Viktoria Backnang (player/manager)
TSV Lippoldsweiler (player/manager)
SC Korb
SSV Reutlingen
Ulm 1846
VfB Stuttgart
Hannover 96
Schalke 04
1899 Hoffenheim

Ralf Rangnick (born June 29, 1958 in Backnang) is a German former footballer, who is currently manager of Bundesliga side 1899 Hoffenheim.

Early career

Rangnick began his playing career at VfB Stuttgart, but was unable to progress any farther than their amateur side, playing in the lower leagues. This was to prove his level, as he played at a string of small lowly clubs, including a stint at English non-league side Southwick while studying.

His first taste of coaching came in his playing days at SSV Ulm 1846 in the early 1980s, when he was entrusted to coach the youth side. He stepped up to becoming player/coach at his hometown club Viktoria Backnang, then TSV Lippoldsweiler. After hanging up his boots, he became the coach of SC Korb in 1988, remaining there two seasons before returning to his original club VfB Stuttgart to now manage the amateur ranks he had once played in.

Rangnick stayed at VfB Stuttgart, as both amateur and youth coach, through the early 1990s, before moving to Regionalliga South side SSV Reutlingen in 1995. He took the club to a 4th place finish in his first season, and they began the following campaign brightly too, with the club in the midst of the promotion push by Christmas. Rangnick would not complete the season with the team though, as he moved to his former club SSV Ulm 1846 in January 1997.

SSV Ulm 1846 were also positioned in the Regionalliga South, and although Rangnick could only manage a 6th place position from the remainder of the 1996/97 season, the next year they won the league. Rangnick adapted well to life at his highest level yet in the 2. Bundesliga, and SSV Ulm 1846 mounted a strong promotion push.

However, during the winter break, he signed a deal to move to top flight VfB Stuttgart for the next season. This was supposed to remain secret until the end of the season, but in February it leaked out into public knowledge. This caused an outcry, especially as the team began to lose ground in the table, and by the end of March, Rangnick quit the post prematurely and took control of VfB Stuttgart for the final five games.

Bundesliga entry

Rangnick was now first team coach at the club he had served as a player and coached at amateur and youth level previously. His first full season at Bundesliga level in 1999/00 saw the team finish a respectable 8th, but the following season was much tougher. Despite making the semi finals of the DFB Cup and the round of 16 in the UEFA Cup (via the Intertoto Cup), their league form was mediocre and they were sat in the relegation zone by the halfway point. After their European exit in February 2001, VfB Stuttgart fired Rangnick.

The next season brought a new post, as Rangnick took over 2. Bundesliga side Hannover 96. His first season was a complete success as they romped home as champions and were promoted back to the Bundesliga after a 13 year absence. Their first season back at the top level saw them consolidate with an 11th place finish, but as their form nosedived in the second half of the 2003/04 season, Rangnick was fired after a 0-1 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach in March 2004.

FC Schalke and beyond

After missing out on the assistant role in the German national side to Joachim Löw, Rangnick was hired by FC Schalke 04, after Jupp Heynckes left just weeks into the 2004/05 season. Rangnick again tasted European action as the club had earned a UEFA Cup spot via the Intertoto Cup. He led them through the group phase, but they exited in the knockout rounds to Shakhtar Donetsk. The DFB Cup was to prove more successful though, as Rangnick took the club to the final, where they fell 2-1 to Bayern Munich. Bayern would also pip Rangnick's side in the league as Schalke ended as runners-up.

The next season started well with Rangnick gaining revenge over former club VfB Stuttgart by beating them 1-0 to lift the Ligapokal. Their second place league finish of the previous year had also qualified them for the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League, Rangnick's first entry into the prestigious competition. However, the team would fail to progress beyond the group stage, and sat 10 points off the pace in the Bundesliga, as well as having crashed 0-6 in the DFB Cup to Eintracht Frankfurt. Shortly before the winter break, these factors forced the club to dismiss Rangnick.

Rangnick had to drop down the divisions for his next club, as he moved to 1899 Hoffenheim of the Regionalliga South for the 2006/07 season. Again, he proved himself adept at this level, as the team instantly won promotion and played the 2007/08 season in the 2. Bundesliga for their first time in their history. The stay in the 2. Bundesliga was short: a second-place finish for Hoffenheim in 2007/08 has earned the club, and Rangnick, promotion to the Bundesliga for the 2008/09 season.

Trivia

* Owing to an appearance on a sports show on German TV in December 1998, in which he explained the tactics of a game extensively on a blackboard, he is until today - mostly dismissively - nicknamed the 'Football Professor'