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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Jack Flintham

What Robin van Persie could bring to Erik ten Hag's Manchester United coaching team

Manchester United look set to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager sooner rather than later.

The Ajax boss was interviewed by United back in March and was also named as the preferred candidate to take over at Old Trafford by the Reds hierarchy. Reports in the Netherlands suggest that the Amsterdam club are preparing for life without Ten Hag moving forwards.

Debate is now raging as to who will accompany Ten Hag at Old Trafford with plenty of names such as Jaap Stam, Steve McClaren and Ruud van Nistelrooy all being linked in the past couple of months. Another person reportedly being considered is former striker Robin van Persie.

ALSO READ: Manchester United signed Victor Lindelof over Virgil van Dijk

Currently working with the Feyenoord youth teams, Van Persie may be an ideal person to join the backroom staff having earned the adoration of the United faithful previously. Speaking to The Star in May last year, Van Persie outlined what he could offer as a coach.

He said: "It really triggered me, especially working with the youth. It’s just a joy to work with.

"Mentally and physically I am ready to make the step into coaching. I was a player who was creative and I never liked a coach who told me what to do exactly because I wanted my freedom, so now what I try to do is have two parts to my coaching style.

"One, you have the team philosophy, and two, you have the personal way of working together with the players. At any time I try to always [get them] to keep their freedom, because all these guys are really talented and that is why they’re playing at such a good club.

"It’s constantly trying to find that balance of making them play from your philosophy, but still let them be creative in their own way."

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