Rangnick began his coaching career at age 25, initially as a player-coach at Viktoria Backnang.

Rangnick won the U-19 Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart's Under 19 team.

Rangnick managed Ulm 1846, winning the Regionalliga Süd in 1998 and achieving promotion to the 2. Bundesliga.

Rangnick took over VfB Stuttgart, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2000 but was dismissed in 2001.

Rangnick managed Hannover 96, winning the 2. Bundesliga in 2002 but was dismissed in 2004.

Rangnick had a brief stint at Schalke 04, reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Rangnick managed TSG Hoffenheim, achieving successive promotions to the Bundesliga and reaching the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal.

Rangnick returned to Schalke 04, winning the DFB-Pokal in 2011.

Rangnick managed RB Leipzig across two periods, securing promotion to the Bundesliga and reaching the UEFA Champions League.

Rangnick served as interim manager of Manchester United until the end of the 2021-2022 season.

Rangnick was appointed manager of the Austria national team, qualifying for UEFA Euro 2024.