Ralf Rangnick signs new Austria deal through Euro 2028 campaign, ending speculation before World Cup start
Austrian football association confirms that 67-year-old German coach Ralf Rangnick will remain as national team boss beyond the 2026 World Cup, with an agreement that runs until at least the end of 2027 and automatically covers Euro 2028 if the side qualifies.
Contract details
Ralf Rangnick has committed his future to the Austrian national team, signing a new deal that extends his tenure well past the current World Cup in North America. The contract runs until the end of 2027 and includes an automatic extension should Austria reach the 2028 European Championship in Great Britain and Ireland. Rangnick, who took charge in summer 2022 and guided the side to Euro 2024 and now the 2026 World Cup, had been on a contract set to expire after the tournament.
Clarity before kick-off
The announcement was timed to land just days before Austria’s first World Cup fixture, a group-stage opener against Jordan in Santa Barbara, California. ÖFB supervisory board chairman Josef Pröll said the federation wanted to remove uncertainty ahead of the competition.
I am very pleased that we can present these great news to our fans shortly before the start of the World Cup. The clarity now created is particularly important for the team.
Milan interest and financial package
Rangnick had recently been linked with a sporting-director role at AC Milan, but chose to remain with Austria. Pröll stressed that the federation cannot match the budgets of top European clubs, so the deal relied on contributions from four ÖFB sponsors and non-financial factors.
It is clear that the ÖFB cannot financially compete with international top clubs. There were, and I want to stress this, also other factors that convinced Ralf Rangnick.
Pröll did not disclose salary details, but described an "attractive and economically viable overall package for the coming two years."
World Cup context
Austria is competing in its first men’s World Cup since 1998. After the opening match against Jordan, the team faces world champions Argentina and Algeria in the group phase. The contract resolution gives the squad a settled leadership structure as it enters the tournament.
