Austria's manager Rangnick on Bayern recruitment: Do I even want it?

Ralf Rangnick, manager of the Austrian national team, confirmed on Wednesday that Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich has contacted him as a manager candidate but said he is unsure if he will take the offer.

"We have a very trusting relationship. My focus is on the Austrian national team," Rangnick told Austrian outlet 90Minuten. "We are completely focused on the European Championships. I feel very comfortable here. At the moment, there is no reason to deal with it intensively and specifically."

Rangnick was appointed manager of Austria in April 2022 on a two-year contract. He helped the team qualify for this year's UEFA European Championship in Germany. According to his deal, he can choose to extend it by another two years after Austria make Euro 2024.

"The moment Bayern say: We want you. And then I have to ask myself: Do I even want this?" Rangnick said. "If I do want to do something different, I will first discuss it with the Austrian FA."

Austria are in Group D with Poland, the Netherlands and France at the Euros. Their best record at the tournament was reaching the Round of 16 in 2021.

Rangnick managed multiple clubs, such as VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96, Schalke 04, TSG Hoffenheim, and RB Leipzig, before taking over Austria. He is familiar with the Bundesliga, but his record of managing a heavyweight club has not been impressive. During his interim tenure with Manchester United in the 2021-22 season, the "Red Devils" finished their 29 games with 11 wins, 10 draws and eight losses. The club ended in seventh place on the Premier League table.

Bayern will part ways with their incumbent manager, Thomas Tuchel, after the 2023-24 campaign. They lost the Bundesliga title to Leverkusen and were eliminated early from the DFB-Pokal. Their only chance of winning a trophy this season is by winning the UEFA Champions League. The German giants will play Real Madrid in the semifinals.