(Short Thread) Main developers and influencers of the Pressing and Transition philosophy in Austria and Germany.

Hasenhuttl finally getting his credit is great to see. The 4-2-2-2 press he utilizes probably has the most perfect spacing to cut off opposition progression, as it creates a central hexagon to stop central progression but 10s in this formation are placed well to cut off the wing.

A very similar manager to Ralph is Roger Schmidt, who I’d say is more influential. Both are advocates of the 4222 press and strict vertical play. Schmidt’s helped to ingrain Ralgnick’s pressing philosophy into Salzburg and cultivate numerous successful managers after his tenure.

Adi Hutter, Marco Rose, and Jesse Marsch all benefitted off Schmidt’s implementation of the philosophy into the club and his interpretation of Rangnick’s ideas. It allowed all three to be successful at Salzburg with proper recruitment to fit the philosophy.

But really, its Rangnick’s influence that’s responsible for such a brilliant crop of managers coming out of the RB system. Rangnick’s ideas define the philosophies of managers like Marco Rose, Roger Schmidt, Adi Hutter, Ralph Hasenhuttl, and Jesse Marsch.

Rangnick’s also responsible for most of Germany’s transition-based game. It’s what makes so many of Germany’s mid-table teams fierce on the counter and is what famously made Guardiola adapt his Positional Play philosophy to be more pragmatic.

Klopp is another major influence of the pressing philosophy in Germany. His Dortmund side in the early 2010s were significantly successful using intense Gegenpressing and rapid counter attacks. Klopp showed how such an aggressive style can be successful winning two Bundesligas.

Marco Rose also sights Klopp as an influence to his style of play. But Jurgen’s philosophy isn’t shaped by Rangnick’s gospel, but of Wolfgang Frank’s, who Klopp sights as his mentor.

However, Ralf Rangnick and Wolfgang Frank studied and admired the same two great pressuring teams of the past, Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan in the late 80s and the Total Football of the Netherlands and Ajax in the 70s.

The development of the pressure and transition game in Germany and Austria is certainly very interesting and deep-rooted, and has influenced a large string of managers and has the potential to define the core future of football.

A bit of quick thread I made, any likes and RTs appreciated