New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has clashed with the club’s board before even starting his role as a key appointment to his backroom staff is set to be blocked.
United confirmed the appointment of the Dutchman on Thursday after the 52-year-old met with United bosses last month to talk about becoming their new manager on a permanent basis. He has signed a contract until June 2025 with an option of a further year.
Ten Hag wants to bring Steve McClaren as his new Manchester United assistant, along with Mitchell van der Gaag – who is set to join the boss in making the switch from Ajax. However, he has been met with resistance by his new club as problems appear to have started before they have begun.
Van der Gaag, ten Hag’s long-term Ajax assistant, is poised to join him at Old Trafford but the new manager’s hopes of bringing McClaren back to the club is proving more difficult - but the new boss is set to get his way. Ten Hag was assistant to McClaren when the former England boss was appointed at Dutch club FC Twente in 2008 before he moved on to PSV Eindhoven.
Now, ten Hag is hopeful of having McClaren as his assistant at United but the Telegraph report that this has been met with resistance by officials at the club. Negotiations are ongoing with Ajax over a compensation package for van der Gaag but there is said to be more concerns over McClaren returning to United although it is likely to come to fruition despite this.
McClaren joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching staff at the club during the treble-winning campaign in 1998/99 before departing in 2001 to commence his own managerial career – which spanned 670 matches across seven different clubs and the England national team - at Middlesbrough. More recently, he has worked alongside Arsene Wenger at FIFA to develop the game across its member nations.
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Ten Hag is said to want to McClaren not only to assist with his duties and coaching, but to help oversee the club’s day-to-day running. While some United officials are not keen on the idea, it is said that they will likely have to accept this proposal in order not to undermine the project.
There is uncertainty over other coaches at United although Chris Armas is likely to step down when Ralf Rangnick’s spell as interim boss ends and he commences his yet unspecified consultancy role. Eric Ramsey – promoted under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – is still on the staff alongside Mike Phelan, while Director of Football Darren Fletcher is also commonly seen on the bench. Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna – now Ipswich Town boss - both left earlier this season.
