Leipzig’s Ralf Rangnick linked to England manager job - but is he the right man?

Following the departure of Sam Allardyce this week after he was caught up in a newspaper sting, the governing body are keen to fill the void having asked Gareth Southgate to step into the role on a temporary basis for the next four games.

According to the Telegraph, Rangnick held talks with the FA about the role after Roy Hodgson stepped down as manager over the summer.

Rangnick is said to have impressed FA Chiefs, with technical director Dan Ashworth in particular supportive of the German, though it was ultimately decided they wanted an Englishman in the role.

With Allardyce no longer in post and a lack of English talent available, Rangnick could be back in the frame – as could Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Currently the director of sports at Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, the 58-year-old has also held the role of sporting director at Red Bull Salzburg.

Though having spent his entire managerial career in Germany – including leading Schalke to the Champions League semi-finals in 2011 – Rangnick is apparently fluent in English having spent a year studying at the University of Sussex, near Brighton.

He resigned four months after the semi-final defeat to Manchester United, later citing exhaustion.

Rangnick is usually referred to as the "Professor” in Germany for his academic approach. Some don’t like this and his very tactical view of the game and the fact that he is working for little loved Red Bull.

But he’s got this job for a reason: he’s an highly regarded expert, many of his former protégées are successful coaches now.

He’s been quite successful as a coach himself, his time with Hoffenheim was very impressive, bringing them from 3rd division right to the top of the Bundesliga standings. Winning the DFB Pokal cup with Schalke in 2011 was another highlight – and having the courage to leave the club, making his burnout public, impressed many people.

Would he fit? He knows all about football, no doubt, but we’d doubt him being tough enough to take on the media and the pressure which comes with coaching England.