Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich has praised potential new coach Ralf Rangnick, who brought him to RB Leipzig in 2013.
After Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann decided to stay with new Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and Germany respectively, Bayern are scrambling around looking for a coach after deciding to part ways with Thomas Tuchel in June.
Austria coach Rangnick, 65, has emerged as a top contender despite flopping as Manchester United interim boss in his last club job. He brought Hoffenheim up the German pyramid as coach and did the same with RB Leipzig as coach and sporting director.
"I have every confidence in him when you look at his past - and what he has already achieved and accomplished in his roles," Kimmich told the Münchner Merkur/tz media group.
"He was extremely important to me because he brought me to Leipzig in the third division. I was injured at the time with groin trouble. I don't know if I would have got the problems under control otherwise if I hadn't been given the time. So I was able to develop in peace."
Bayern fan forums have been full of supporters saying Rangnick would be an odd pick, despite the number of available German-speaking coaches being limited. He quit as Schalke coach after less than a year in 2011 due to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Bayern fans have even launched a petition asking for Tuchel to stay.