- Erik ten Hag is set to shake up his coaching staff ahead of next season
- Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake will both join as his new assistants
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Gareth Southgate has gone a bit rogue… and the mask has slipped
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been pictured arriving at Manchester United‘s training ground ahead of starting work on Erik ten Hag‘s backroom staff.
The Red Devils legend is expected to be officially announced as one of Ten Hag’s new assistant coaches imminently with players due back for pre-season today.
Van Nistelrooy will also be joined by Rene Hake after United lured him away from his head coach role at Go Ahead Eagles to support Ten Hag next season.
After extending his contract until 2026 following talks over his future, Ten Hag is set to shake up his coaching team with Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals during his five-year spell at Old Trafford, and Hake drafted in as part of a major reshuffle.
Burnley had identified Van Nistelrooy as their No 1 target to replace Vincent Kompany in the hot seat after their relegation to the Championship – only for United to swoop for his services ahead of Ten Hag’s third season at the helm.
The 48-year-old has impressed across his senior coaching career, having worked at various levels in PSV Eindhoven’s academy and alongside Guus Hiddink with the Netherlands national team. He was then appointed PSV boss in March 2022.
Despite winning the Johan Cruyff Shield and KNVB Cup in his only full campaign in charge, however, Van Nistelrooy resigned citing a lack of support.
Hake, meanwhile, worked with Ten Hag at FC Twente and led Go Ahead Eagles to an impressive ninth-placed finish in the Eredivisie last season.
He has already confirmed he will reunite with his former colleague at United.
‘The feeling I have is difficult to describe, but this is, of course, a great opportunity for me,’ Hake told Voetbal International.
‘Working in the biggest league in the world, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
‘It is also a wonderful reward for me. The fact that I can go to the top of the world from Go Ahead Eagles is unique. Of course, I am grateful to Erik for this opportunity, but it is not about us knowing each other well. We just have to do good work.
‘Erik has a role in mind for me, we discussed that. As in any staff, all tasks are divided among the assistants.’
United have also recruited a new goalkeeping coach with Jelle ten Rouwelaar, snapped up from Ajax, also reporting for his first day on Monday morning. The 43-year-old had worked with Burnley in the Premier League last season.
It is thought that Benni McCarthy, United’s popular forwards coach, has now left the club after his contract expired. As revealed by Mail Sport, a decision has not been made on the futures of Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McLaren.
Van der Gaag and McLaren flanked Ten Hag during his first two campaigns in charge but both face uncertain futures in light of the new arrivals.
The former appears to be closer to an exit and is said to have ambitions to become a manager again, having been a head coach in Portugal and the Netherlands.
It’s understood discussions are ongoing with McLaren over a role next season.