Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that Steve McClaren's knowledge of the club's culture was just one of the reasons why he wanted him to be part of his backroom staff at Old Trafford.
McClaren, who was installed as one of Ten Hag's trusted lieutenants in May, worked at United for two years between 1999 and 2001, serving as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant. He made the decision to leave the club and pursue his first managerial position at Middlesbrough in June 2001.
After five years at Middlesbrough and one-and-a-half years in charge of England, the 61-year-old moved to the Netherlands, being installed as the new boss of FC Twente. It was at the Dutch outfit that McClaren and Ten Hag first crossed paths, with the latter serving as his assistant.
