Ralf Rangnick 'emerges as contender for Barcelona job'
Only a matter of months after leading the Blaugrana to the 2022-23 La Liga title, current incumbent Xavi announced that he would be stepping down as Barca head coach at the end of the season.
The club legend revealed his decision to the press after overseeing a chastening 5-3 loss to Villarreal at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona's temporary home while Camp Nou undergoes renovations.
Xavi — who took the Barcelona reins in November 2021 following the sacking of Ronald Koeman — claimed that the Spanish champions need to go in a different direction and labelled the Blaugrana job «cruel and unpleasant» while announcing his departure.
Ahead of the former midfielder's exit at the end of the season, the Barcelona powers-that-be are running the rule over several candidates, and according to The Sun, Rangnick is a name on Joan Laporta's radar.
The 65-year-old had held a variety of managerial and director roles during his 40-year career in football administration, including a stint as Man United's caretaker boss in the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.
Rangnick was initially expected to continue at Old Trafford in a consultancy role under Erik ten Hag, but he severed ties with the Red Devils completely and was appointed manager of the Austria national team that same summer.
With the former RB Leipzig chief at the helm, Austria qualified for Euro 2024 in second place behind Belgium in their preliminary section, and they will tackle France, the Netherlands and one of the playoff winners in the group phase this summer.
Rangnick's contract with Das Team runs until the conclusion of
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