Ralf Rangnick, the professor, had overseen Leipzig’s sporting project since 2012. He was there for promotion to the 3. Liga and the 2. Bundesliga, and twice served as head coach as well as sporting director. A tactical obsessive and innovator since his famous Sportstudio appearance in 1999, he personally drove the club into the Bundesliga in 2016 and later became football chief for Red Bull’s wider global projects.