Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake have arrived at Manchester United’s Carrington training complex for the first day of pre-season training.
United have recruited Van Nistelrooy and Hake as coaches in an overhaul of manager Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff. New goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar has also reported for his first day. The club will confirm their appointments once working visas are obtained.
The Manchester Evening News revealed last month Hake would join from Go Ahead Eagles, whom he guided to ninth in the Eredivisie last season. Hake and Ten Hag worked together at youth level at Twente.
United great Van Nistelrooy rejoins the club 18 years after he left for Real Madrid. Benni McCarthy has left and former first team coach Eric Ramsay departed earlier this year to take over at MLS side Minnesota United.
Van Nistelrooy held talks about becoming the manager of Burnley but has opted to join the new set-up at United. Van Nistelrooy won the Dutch cup as manager of PSV Eindhoven in 2023.
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Ten Rouwelaar was the goalkeeping coach at Burnley for two years during Vincent Kompany’s managerial stint and moved to Ajax in the summer before he was swiftly recruited by United.
It is understood United want a new coaching model akin to Manchester City, where Pep Guardiola is supported by an expansive backroom staff. Van Nistelrooy previously managed PSV Eindhoven and had been in the running for the vacant Burnley job.
The changes come after Ineos’s review of the club’s performance last season. United triggered the one-year extension in Ten Hag’s contract last week.
United have already head-hunted City’s former chief football operating officer Omar Berrada to take over as chief executive. Ex-City academy director Jason Wilcox was installed as the United technical director in April and former City employee Toby Craig has joined as chief communications officer.
Wilcox was recommended by Berrada, who does not take official charge until July 13, and the Moroccan is believed to have a close working relationship with Craig.
Assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag and analyst Kevin Keij followed Ten Hag to United from Ajax two years ago and Steve McClaren returned to the club as first team coach.