Ralf Rangnick has bought the entire Austria squad an unusual gift ahead of their Euro 2024 campaign.
Rangnick, 65, was appointed to the national team role back in 2022 shortly after parting ways with Manchester United.
He originally joined on a two-year-deal, which included an option to extend his stay with the team if he qualified for Euro 2024. Fast forward to the present day, Rangnick's side are putting the final touches to their preparation for the international tournament in Germany this summer.
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His side beat Serbia 2-1 in a friendly on Tuesday evening, thanks to goals from Patrick Wimmer and Christoph Baumgartner and will also face Switzerland this Saturday (June 8).
Austria have been drawn in Group D for the tournament, alongside France, Poland and Netherlands.
With a tough group stage on the horizon, Rangnick has taken the opportunity to calm his side down with a bizarre gift ahead of the international stage that awaits.
According to sport.orf, the team will go and watch Rod Stewart in concert just two days before they face France in their opening game of EURO 2024 on June 17.
Rangnick has organised tickets for the entire team, as well as some of the staff, for the Berlin show on June 15.
The players are seemingly keen on the idea, after Baumgartner commented on the tickets being organised.
"It's great to clear your head a bit before things really get started," he said after he helped his side beat Serbia.
"It's not really my generation, I have to be honest about that. It will definitely be a cool atmosphere, we're looking forward to it."
Austria will travel to Dusseldorf on the following day, as attention shifts from Stewart, 79, to the task of beating 2022 World Cup finalists, France.
The other two games in the group stages for Austria will be played at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
Topics: Austria, Euro 2024, Ralf Rangnick, Football, Manchester United
Patrick Rowe