Liverpool advised to appoint Man Utd flop despite disastrous Old Trafford spell

Liverpool have been advised to appoint former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick as sporting director.

Rangnick was appointed as United boss on a temporary basis following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021.

The German subsequently led United from one humbling to the next, as the Old Trafford club finished with their lowest points tally in the Premier League era.

Indeed, the calamitous season saw plenty more of the club's Premier League records broken. United ended the 2021/22 campaign having conceded an all-time high 57 goals, while they also set a new low for wins (16), and matched their record for most losses (12) in a campaign.

Rangnick departed United in May to become Austria's national team manager, as both parties mutually decided against the 64-year-old taking up a previously-planned consultancy role alongside a new full-time manager.

Liverpool to move for Rangnick?

Despite his torrid time at United the Liverpool Echo claim Rangnick would be an ideal appointment for Liverpool.

Heading into next season the Reds do not have a replacement for outgoing sporting director Julian Ward, who leaves his role at the end of the campaign.

And the publication argues Rangnick has proven himself to be a “superb” sporting director, having successfully overseen both RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg’s expansion into European football in the past decade.

At both clubs the German was lauded for his emphasis on recruiting unproven players and developing youth systems with a worldwide scouting base.

It was also noted that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is an admirer, having been influenced by his compatriot's ‘gegenpressing’ style.

Upon Rangnick being appointed United manager Klopp said: "Unfortunately a good coach is coming to England, that's how it is, to Manchester United.

"Ralf is obviously a really experienced manager. He built most famously two clubs from nowhere to proper threats and forces in Germany with Hoffenheim and Leipzig.

“United will be organised on the pitch, we should realise that - that's obviously not good news for other teams."

Rangnick has also played a part in the careers of several Liverpool players, including Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate, Roberto Firmino, Joel Matip and the recently departed star Sadio Mane.

Doomed to fail at United?

The Echo also claimed that Rangnick was doomed to fail at United, given the club’s lack of identity since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

United treated him as “nothing more than an interim manager”, repeatedly ignoring his transfer advice.

The publication argued the Old Trafford club’s use of Rangnick “screams further mismanagement and a six-month time-wasting exercise” while his appointment at Liverpool would “make a mockery” of the perception of the German as merely a United flop.

Topics: Football, Ralf Rangnick, Manchester United, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.