Returning assistant Steve McClaren has compared Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag with Sir Alex Ferguson as he prepares for an Old Trafford reunion on two counts.
Not only did McClaren spend time at United previously under the legendary Scot, he has also worked alongside Ten Hag in the Netherlands. Of course, that came when the Englishman was in charge at Twente, while Ten Hag acted as his assistant. Now the roles have been reversed in time for next season.
Ten Hag was appointed by United last month and stepped into the line of duty on Monday. He attended their final day game against Crystal Palace - where he was joined by confirmed assistants McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag - as attentions turn to their impending rebuild.
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Speaking about the challenge to his son, Josh, on the McClaren Performance podcast, McClaren drew a rather lofty comparison between two men he knows well. He said: "The last seven days have epitomised his attention to details, all the planning which he wants to get right.
"And that's from the day after he won the championship with Ajax, he's on to the next thing; a little bit like Sir Alex Ferguson used to do. But we just want to support Erik and make him successful and, if he is, then the team is."
McClaren added: "Erik finished his last game [at Ajax], came to London where I met him and Mitchell [van der Gaag] and John Murtough and together we spent five or six days including [Monday] with the press. So we have spent the last week working.
"The work ethic and the attention to detail has just been exemplified in the last seven days where he's practically met every member of staff who he is going to work very closely with and in detail has worked out the plan - what each person's job is.
"It's not just exciting going back to Manchester United, it's exciting working with Erik again. And after a week with Mitchell, a very, very good coach, and hopefully together, along with the staff and John Murtough also has been a fantastic help in the process, we can begin middle of June when [the] players come back.
"It's a new beginning. I know Erik is looking forward to it and I certainly am. It was great to catch up with him over the last seven days and bond again and hopefully make a great team off the field that will, ultimately, produce one on the field."
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