Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren have recently been serving as co-assistant managers at Manchester United, while Benni McCarthy took on the role of forward’s coach shortly after Mitchell van der Gaag assumed his position in 2022. However, according to Fabrizio Romano’s recent report, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake are expected to join the club soon, sparking questions about the future of the current coaching staff.
Steve McClaren, formerly assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, is expected to see changes in his role, per The Athletic. McClaren has a strong rapport with Sir Dave Brailsford, the Director of Sport at INEOS.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Benni McCarthy will depart the club when his contract expires later this month.
The situation surrounding Mitchell van der Gaag is particularly intriguing. He followed Erik ten Hag from Ajax and has developed a close relationship with the United manager. Reports suggest that the upcoming appointments could lead to Van der Gaag’s departure, as he may view this as an opportune moment to move on.
Despite his significant role in shaping the club’s coaching ethos, the report indicates that Van der Gaag harbors aspirations of managing a team independently once more, having been linked with various managerial positions over the past season.
The impending arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake as part of the coaching setup signals a restructuring effort under Erik ten Hag’s leadership. These changes, coupled with Benni McCarthy’s impending exit and Mitchell van der Gaag’s uncertain future, mark a notable shift in the dynamics of Manchester United’s coaching staff. Van der Gaag’s potential departure appears driven by his desire to pursue managerial ambitions elsewhere.
Overall, these developments point to a period of transition and adjustment ahead for Manchester United’s coaching staff, as they navigate new arrivals and potential departures under the direction of Erik ten Hag.