Rangnick in Pole Position: Milan Could Trust His Vision
Among the many names circulating around AC Milan these days, one is becoming increasingly concrete: Ralf Rangnick. According to the latest reports, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is strongly pushing to bring the German-Austrian manager to the club as technical director, handing him the keys to the entire sporting structure.
As previously reported, Rangnick is in talks with Ibrahimovic and Cardinale for a leading role within the Rossoneri hierarchy. The Austrian manager’s vision is clear: build a project from the top down, bringing trusted figures with him both on the bench and in the technical area.
Who Is Matthias Jäissle: The Candidate for Milan’s Bench
The name Rangnick would bring with him for the dugout is Matthias Jäissle, a German coach born in 1987, currently in charge of Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. As a player he was a defender; as a manager he has already shown he can win, leading the Saudi club to two Asian Champions League titles.
Jäissle is a direct product of the Rangnick school: his football is built on intense pressing, rapid vertical play and a high-intensity attacking approach — exactly what the godfather of gegenpressing has always preached and applied throughout his career at RB Leipzig, Salzburg and with the Austrian national team.
At just 38 years old, Jäissle would represent a young and ambitious bet, a profile around which to build a cycle. It should be noted, however, that managing in Saudi Arabia is a very different experience from handling the daily pressures of a club like Milan, with its fanbase, history and media environment. Serie A has its own specificities, and foreign coaches have often struggled to adapt — though exceptions certainly exist.
A Total Project: Rangnick Would Want Full Control
The scenario taking shape is not just about appointing a head coach: if Rangnick were to arrive at Milan as technical director, he would want to structure the club according to his philosophy in every aspect. That means personally choosing the sporting director, setting up the youth sector with his own staff, and building a recognisable, coherent footballing identity from the bottom of the pyramid upwards.
An ambitious project, no doubt. And an exciting one. The clarity of vision Rangnick brings could be exactly the compass Milan needs at this moment of transition.
Glasner Remains a Concrete Alternative
Should the Rangnick-Jäissle scenario fail to materialise, one name that remains alive in Rossoneri thinking is that of Oliver Glasner. The Austrian coach, already linked to Milan in recent weeks, is considered a credible alternative — particularly if Rangnick were to arrive but prefer a different profile on the bench.
Glasner brings top-level European experience and a proactive style of play that would suit the characteristics of the Rossoneri squad well. His name therefore remains on the list, ready to rise should the main negotiations fall through.
The World Cup Complication: Will Rangnick Be Available?
There is, however, one complex element that cannot be overlooked: Rangnick is currently committed to the Austrian national team in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. This means that, at least until the tournament concludes, his availability to work full-time on the Milan project would be limited — a factor that could further delay the club’s summer planning, already significantly behind its rivals.
Milan, though, has all the resources and history needed to get things right. The path is laid out: what is needed now is the determination to walk it.
