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Ralf Rangnick's bold start as Austria coach sparks contract showdown

From empty stands to World Cup glory, Rangnick transformed Austria's team—now money threatens his future. Can ambition and budgets align before it's too late?

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1 min read
The image shows a large crowd of people sitting in front of a stage, with a railing on the right...
The image shows a large crowd of people sitting in front of a stage, with a railing on the right side and a ceiling with lights at the top. In the center of the image, there are a few people standing on the stage, likely participating in the 2018 World Championships in Munich, Germany.

Ralf Rangnick's bold start as Austria coach sparks contract showdown

Austria's national football team has seen a sharp turnaround under Ralf Rangnick, who recently secured his first win as head coach. His predecessor, Franco Foda, left after a 2-2 draw with Scotland in a near-empty stadium. Now, contract talks for Rangnick are underway—but financial details remain a sticking point.

Franco Foda's final match as Austria manager ended in a 2-2 friendly draw against Scotland. Only 6,600 fans turned up, a stark contrast to the 40,700 average under Rangnick. During Foda's 4.5-year tenure, he never beat a team ranked higher than Austria in FIFA's world rankings.

Rangnick took over and quickly made an impact. His first game in charge was a 3-0 Nations League win over Croatia. Under his leadership, Austria also qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

Behind the scenes, contract discussions have begun. ÖFB president Josef Pröll raised the issue during a supervisory board meeting, with details later leaking to the public. Board member Hans Gartner claimed an extension was already agreed—if Rangnick accepts the same financial terms. However, Wolfgang Bartosch, another board member, insists adjustments are inevitable. He suggested a performance-based deal and noted that hiring an Austrian coach would cost far less.

A full Happel Stadium brings in around €1.5 million per match, leaving the ÖFB with a six-figure profit. Yet attendance figures from Foda's final home games remain unclear.

Rangnick's future with Austria hinges on contract negotiations, with no clear timeline for a resolution. His early success on the pitch contrasts sharply with Foda's struggles, but financial terms could still shape the final decision. The ÖFB now faces balancing ambition with budget constraints.

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