"Big favorite"

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FC Bayern is not letting up on Ralf Rangnick.(Bild: GEPA pictures, Krone KREATIV)

FC Bayern is not letting up: ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick is said to be the "big favorite" for the vacant coaching position in Munich. The 65-year-old had actually already turned it down.

According to the Munich newspaper "tz", the deal is set to go through this week. The ball is now only in Rangnick's court, they say. If he says yes to Bayern, he will be expected directly at Säbener Straße after the EURO.

FC Bayern is not letting up on Ralf Rangnick.(Bild: GEPA pictures, Krone KREATIV)

"We will hopefully soon be entering the home straight with our candidates. We are now very final and hope that we can announce something soon," said sporting director Max Eberl at the weekend on the sidelines of the 5:1 win at Union Berlin.

Austrian team boss Rangnick had recently denied a meeting with Bayern. "No, why should I? I feel comfortable here. I still have a contract until 2026. Our goal and path will continue after the EURO," he said. Sentences that have already been interpreted as a rejection of the record champions. Will there be a U-turn after all? The fact is: Bayern would have to pay the ÖFB a transfer fee.

Schöttel: "The ÖFB has not received any inquiries"
"Ralf Rangnick has a valid contractual relationship, the ÖFB has not received any inquiries. The full focus is on UEFA EURO 2024," ÖFB sporting director Peter Schöttel told APA - Austria Presse Agentur. 

Rangnick was already being discussed as coach at Bayern in 2019. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge negotiated with him at the time when Munich were looking for a successor to Niko Kovac, but ultimately opted for Hansi Flick.

Working with Freund again?
The current Champions League semi-finalists currently employ some of Rangnick's good acquaintances, such as Christoph Freund as sporting director, Rene Maric as coach of the U19 team and as "Team Manager Coach Development & Match Philosophy", Richard Kitzbichler in the area of top talent development and loan player support and Jochen Sauer as Director of Youth Development.

Worked at Red Bull Salzburg from 2012 to 2015: Ralf Rangnick (left) and Christoph Freund.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Bayern, who were accustomed to success, missed out on the championship this season for the first time since 2012 and were knocked out of the DFB Cup in the second round by third-division side Saarbrücken. They face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, but even if they win the title in the top flight, Tuchel's departure in the summer is a foregone conclusion, as the current Bayern coach only confirmed again at the weekend. In recent weeks, Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann have been rumored as possible successors to Tuchel. However, the master coach remains in Leverkusen and Nagelsmann extended his contract as German team manager.