Ralf Rangnick thinks highly of a Premier League boss ahead of a summer where Manchester United will appoint a new head coach
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim's successor will be appointed this summer(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United could potentially rely on Ralf Rangnick's high praise of Oliver Glasner if they decide to pursue the Austrian as their new permanent manager.
This comes after Ruben Amorim was dismissed earlier this month, leading to Darren Fletcher being promoted from his position as U18 head coach to interim manager. Fletcher has since stepped down from the role, with former colleague Michael Carrick taking over until the end of the season.
A number of managers have been linked with the United job, including the current Crystal Palace boss. Glasner, 51, has had a remarkable stint at Selhurst Park since joining in February 2024, guiding the Eagles to their first major trophy with an FA Cup win last year.
This victory secured them a spot in European football and also led to a Community Shield triumph in August, following a penalty shootout victory over Liverpool. A move to Old Trafford this summer could be a possibility, given Glasner's announcement that he intends to leave the south London club at the end of the season, meaning United could secure his services without a transfer fee.
However, his tenure at Palace was reportedly under threat of being prematurely ended, with the club contemplating dismissal following his controversial remarks after their 2-1 loss to Sunderland on Saturday.
Glasner accused the Palace hierarchy of having "completely abandoned" him and his squad following the £20million departure of captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City, a transfer expected to be finalised shortly.
Ralf Rangnick walks at Old Trafford
Ralf Rangnick thinks highly of Oliver Glasner(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images.)
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Nevertheless, Sky Sports has reported that the Eagles have chosen not to sack the Austrian and wish for him to complete the remaining term of his contract. Whilst the manager's stint at Palace might conclude disappointingly, either imminently or at season's end, his coaching credentials have been praised highly by Rangnick, who served as United's caretaker manager from 2021 to 2022.
"For me, Oliver Glasner is currently one of the most exciting coaches - not only in Germany, but in all of Europe. An absolute top coach," the Austria national team manager told LAOLA1 in March 2023.
During Rangnick's spell as Red Bull Salzburg's director of football, he played a key role in Glasner's coaching progression by appointing him as Roger Schmidt's assistant. Discussing his protege's advancement in football, Rangnick said: "He developed step by step to where he is now, also because he made the right decisions.
Oliver Glasner looks on
The Austrian boss is reportedly set to stay at Crystal Palace for the rest of the season(Image: (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire))
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"From his perspective, it was right to go to Ried, from Ried to Linz, from Linz to Wolfsburg. When you see what's happening with him and Markus Krosche at Eintracht Frankfurt, you can only take your hat off to him. This is a prime example of how a coach's career should develop. It couldn't have been written down better beforehand."
For United supporters concerned that Glasner, similar to Amorim, favours a three-at-the-back formation, the Austrian manager has previously drawn comparisons between his team and Amorim's, whilst explaining how such a tactical approach can thrive in the Premier League.
"We're playing the same system," he said earlier this season. "So it looks like it's a good attacking system. Also, as we show it, you can have a good defensive structure with it. It's all about what you do with the system and how fluid you are in attack and how creative you are."
Already an iconic figure in Palace's history, Glasner's patience finally snapped following the defeat at the Stadium of Light, as he took aim at senior club officials over their choices to offload Eberechi Eze and Guehi.
Ruben Amorim during a Manchester United game.
Ruben Amorim was sacked earlier this month(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
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Speaking to BBC Sport, Glasner fumed: "I feel we are being abandoned completely. Because I can't play many players. They did everything they could and this has been going on for weeks and months now. And we have 12, 13 players from the squad available and we feel no support.
"The worst thing is selling our captain one day before playing a Premier League game. We are preparing, it's the first week we are training since September, and then we are selling our captain one day before a game. So I have no understanding of this.
"I have always kept my mouth [closed], but I can't because I have to defend these players, because it was the 35th game today. Yes we get under pressure here and we are unlucky. But again, you can't react, we can't help them, it makes it really tough tonight."
When questioned about who he feels "abandoned" him, Glasner responded: "It's pretty clear, yeah? It's pretty clear. Again, I didn't sell anyone. If you get your heart torn out twice this season, one day before a game, it was with [Eberechi] Eze in summer, it was with Guehi now, you know?"