BAYERN MUNICH fans have gone to extreme lengths to block Ralf Rangnick’s appointment as their new boss.
The former Manchester United interim gaffer is reportedly leading the charge to replace Thomas Tuchel this summer.
Bayern first tried poaching Xabi Alonso from rivals and new Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen.
But after also receiving an approach from Liverpool, the Spaniard declared his intention to stay put for at least one more year.
Bayern then saw a move for Julian Nagelsmann fall through when their former coach extended his deal with the German national team.
And when fellow target Unai Emery also penned a new contract at Aston Villa, Bayern opened talks with Austria boss Rangnick.
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It’s reckoned he could take charge for as little as one year while Bayern hold out for Alonso or even Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who will rest for 12 months when he leaves Anfield this summer.
Rangnick failed to impress during a six-month spell at United two seasons ago.
And some Bayern fans seem displeased by the idea he could replace current boss Tuchel.
The ex-Chelsea man has led Bayern to the Champions League semis, despite the club having already announced they will be cutting him loose in June.
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Should Tuchel win Europe’s biggest prize for a second time, it could leave Bayern bosses wondering if they’ve pulled the trigger too soon.
And supporters have now launched a petition urging chiefs to stick with Tuchel this summer, insisting he is head and shoulders above Rangnick.
Candidates for Bayern Munich job
In the running:
- Ralf Rangnick (Austria)
- Zinedine Zidane (unattached)
- Ruben Amorim (Sporting Lisbon)
- Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton)
Out of running:
- Unai Emery (Aston Villa, new deal)
- Julian Nagelsmann (Germany, new deal)
- Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen, public declaration)
The petition was only launched on Tuesday but has already clocked up over 10,000 signatures.
And supporters believe Tuchel’s performances in the Champions League proves he remains the right man to lead Bayern, despite their shortcomings on the home front.
It read: “Despite the negative media coverage surrounding him and the personnel situation with the injury-plagued Munich team, the Champions League winner led his team to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
“With all due respect to candidates like Emery or Rangnick, these coaches can’t hold a candle to ‘Juppel’ (Tuchel).
“Considering that the ‘Finale Dahoam’ (Champions League final at the Allianz Arena) will take place next season, Bayern Munich should actually be glad to have such an outstanding Champions League coach like TT."
Ralf Rangnick's managerial stats
Those numbers in full:
- Stuttgart II, 1985-1987: P70 W28 D16 L26
- Reutlingen 05, 1995-1996: P51 W26 D12 L13
- Ulm 1846, 1997-1999: P75 W36 D18 L21
- Stuttgart, 1999-2001: P86 W36 D16 L34
- Hannover, 2001-2004: P98 W44 D22 L32
- Schalke, 2004-2005: P65 W36 D15 L14
- Hoffenheim, 2006-2011: P166 W79 D43 L44
- Schalke, 2011: P23 W10 D3 L10
- RB Leipzig, 2015-2018: P36 W21 D7 L8
- RB Leipzig, 2018-2019: P52 W29 D13 L10
- Man Utd, 2021-2022: P29 W11 D10 L8
- Austria, 2022-2024: P21 W13 D3 L5
- Trophies: Regional League South (Ulm); Intertoto Cup, U19 Bundesliga (Stuttgart); Bundesliga 2 (Hannover); German Cup, German Super Cup, German League Cup (Schalke)