Steve McClaren is under consideration for a shock return to Old Trafford as potential new manager Erik ten Hag’s number two.
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is believed to be close to becoming the new manager of Manchester United after impressing chiefs in an interview, as well as his strong record in Holland, winning two Eredivisie titles as well as taking the Amsterdam side to the Champions League semi-finals.
McClaren has already had success working with Ten Hag before, with the former England manager employing him as his assistant when he took over at Dutch side Twente during 2008-9, taking the club to second in the league before winning the side their first ever title a year later.
The Guardian reports that, as the current Ajax manager has never worked in the Premier League, the ideal candidate to be his assistant would have experience in the competition and of Manchester United.
That fits McClaren, who was Sir Alex Ferguson's number two between 1999 and 2001, with United claiming the Treble at the end of his first season there.
The new setup would be a complete role reversal for Ten Hag and McClaren, but it is believed to be an arrangement both would be happy with and an opportunity to reignite a previous successful partnership.
As a manager, McClaren won the League Cup with Middlesbrough, before managing England for 18 games in 16 months from 2006-2007, and has also sat in the hot seat at Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest, Derby County twice and Newcastle United.
His last managerial position at Queens Park Rangers came to an end three years ago, when he was sacked with the club languishing in the bottom half of the Championship.
Although other candidates have been floated - including Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauricio Pochettino - it is believed Ten Hag has already done enough to convince the United board for them to give him the chance to take over from interim manager Ralf Rangnick in the close season.
