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.
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They have remained friends ever since and Ten Hag, once installed as United's new manager in April, was determined to be reunited with the former Derby County chief at Old Trafford. He has now explained why he felt it was important to bring him to M16.
"Of course [having McClaren's insight has helped]," Ten Hag told United's club website. "That is also part of the reason that I really wanted him along with the other capabilities that he has.
"The fact that he knows the club is a big advantage for us and, although it is a long time ago, he knows the culture of Manchester United. I think with both [McClaren and Mitchell Van der Gaag], he was a coach from the moment he was born."
On what Van der Gaag, his assistant from his time in charge at Ajax, will bring to Old Trafford, Ten Hag continued: "Mitchell van der Gaag also has a lot of experience, firstly as a player. He played many games at the highest levels in different leagues.
"After that he became a coach, also in different countries and different levels. So he came with a lot of experience. The most important thing with those two, they know how to win, because they have proved it in the past with their clubs."
While McClaren and Van der Gaag will serve as Ten Hag's most trusted lieutenants, the Dutchman also has other staff to help him try and transform the Reds' fortunes. And they, in his eyes, bring plenty to the table.
"You see and you feel that we have really dedicated staff around us," Ten Hag added. "They are really well experienced and they have a lot of knowledge. They are bringing us a lot."
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