German coach Ralf Rangnick was hired Monday as Manchester United manager until the end of the season.
The 63-year-old Rangnick has left his role as head of sports and development at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow to take charge of the English club, which has been led by former player Michael Carrick since the firing of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Nov. 21.
United is planning to hire a permanent manager in the offseason, at which time Rangnick will take up a “consultancy role for a further two years," the club said.
The arrival of Rangnick, a pioneer of the high-intensity pressing game developed in Germany and increasingly dominant in world soccer over the last decade, should shake up the playing style of United as the team looks to rescue its season.
United is in eighth place in the Premier League, 12 points off leader Chelsea after 13 games.
“The squad is full of talent and has a great balance of youth and experience,” Rangnick said. “All my efforts for the next six months will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team.”
Carrick will continue in charge until Rangnick secures a working visa.
