Rangnick–Schöttel Rift Signals End of an Era in Austrian Football
The power struggle at the top of Austrian football is coming to a head. On Friday, the supervisory board of the ÖFB is expected to decide whether Peter Schöttel’s nine-year spell at the federation is over.
What had long been whispered in corridors is now being reported openly by Kurier and Krone: the relationship between sporting director Schöttel and national coach Ralf Rangnick is considered shattered. Not strained. Broken.
Schöttel has already been pushed to the sidelines by the federation, a clear signal that trust has evaporated between the two most important sporting figures in the national setup.
Former Austria striker and current Sky pundit Marc Janko lifted the lid on the mood behind the scenes. “If you ask around behind the scenes, then it is not hugely surprising,” he said of the current developments. With Schöttel and Rangnick, “it did not really work properly,” Janko added, explaining that for some time the German coach has been bypassing the sporting director on key issues and going “via other people” instead.
Once that happens at the top of a federation, there is usually no way back.
Successful spell under Schöttel
Schöttel, now 59, joined the ÖFB in 2017. He started as U19 coach and, within just two months, was promoted to overall sporting director. From there, Austria entered one of its most stable and productive periods in recent history.
Under his leadership, the national team reached the European Championship in back-to-back cycles. Austria qualified for Euro 2021 and Euro 2024, advancing to the last 16 on both occasions.
The biggest landmark came last summer. Austria reached a World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years, a breakthrough moment for the federation. The run ended in the round of 32 against eventual world champions Spain, but the step itself marked a major achievement under Schöttel’s watch.
Now that era stands on the brink.
Prödl emerges as favourite
The ÖFB has not yet announced who will succeed Schöttel if, as expected, the supervisory body opts for a clean break. But Krone reports that an internal favourite has already emerged: Sebastian Prödl.
The former Werder Bremen defender has been in charge of the ÖFB’s youth department since 2024 and is said to enjoy a strong reputation within the federation. His work with the next generation has been well received, and his name keeps surfacing when insiders talk about the future structure.
One factor weighs especially heavily in his favour: Prödl is believed to have an excellent relationship with Ralf Rangnick.
If the supervisory board confirms Schöttel’s departure on Friday, Austria will not just be replacing a sporting director. It will be choosing which axis of power shapes the next chapter of its national team – and how firmly it wants to build that future around Rangnick.
