Bayern Munich Fans Start Petition as Rangnick Could Replace Tuchel
Ralf Rangnick is best known to fans of British football for his short stint as interim manager for Manchester United between 2021 and 2022. Although things did not go well on the pitch, the German's comments on the Premier League club have been pretty eye-opening in hindsight.
Indeed, he famously claimed the Red Devils needed 'open heart surgery to fix' their issues. A statement which is hard to argue with these days. He also recommended a number of key signings that were turned down, but have since proven to be very good players – such as Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, and Enzo Fernandez.
Upon his arrival at Old Trafford, he spoke with the club's official media team and talked about his first impressions of English football. He actually spent a year on the south coast at Sussex University as part of his English and PE degree. He revealed that he visited three stadiums in this period, which gave him "goosebumps". However, all are now defunct.
Ralf Rangnick's First Taste of English Football
Highbury and other stadiums left big impression
It was noted that his time as a student in England was where his 'love of the country's football blossomed.' Rangnick was said to have recalled visiting the likes of the Goldstone Ground (Brighton), Highbury (Arsenal) and Upton Park (West Ham United) and savouring the special atmosphere. He said:
Rangnick Followed Brighton
Also Played Non-league Football in England
Ralf Rangnick
Ralf Rangnick
Rangnick – who was a fullback and a midfielder – even played non-league football in England for Southwick in the 1979/80 season, with 11 appearances for the club in the Sussex County Division One. The team finished runners-up in the table that campaign, but the German's time on the pitch was limited after he was left needing hospital treatment, having suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs during a game.
As a fan, he appeared to follow Brighton most closely in this period, and remembered attending a home fixture for the Seagulls against Liverpool in 1979. This would have taken place at Goldstone Ground, which was the club's home between 1902 and 1997.
Brighton moved to the Withdean Stadium and then eventually into the American Express Stadium, which was completed in 2011. Goldstone Ground was sold to property developers, and the site was redeveloped as a retail park, currently known as the Goldstone Retail Park.
Highbury is, of course, Arsenal's old ground. The Gunners hosted matches there from 1913 to 2006, before moving into the Emirates Stadium. It has now been developed into a block of flats.
Finally, West Ham United, another Premier League club, were mentioned. They left Upton Park, also known as the Boleyn Ground in 2016, having first opened their doors in 1904. These days, the Hammers play their games at the London Stadium.