Erik ten Hag is hoping Ruud van Nistelrooy’s ‘Manchester United DNA’ can inspire his players after the former Old Trafford favourite returned to the club as assistant manager.
United have confirmed Van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake as Ten Hag’s new No 2s in a move that sees Mitchell van der Gaag leave the club and Steve McClaren become senior first-team coach.
Forwards coach Benni McCarthy and goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis have also left, while Darren Fletcher – who gave up his title of technical director to Jason Wilcox – has formally joined the first-team coaching staff.
It’s the return of Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 games for United between 2001 and 2006, that will most excite the fans. Ten Hag is hoping the 47-year-old’s knowledge of the halcyon days under Sir Alex Ferguson will rub off on his players.
‘First of all his character,’ said Ten Hag. ‘It has brought him so far and it’s an example to everyone in the building. He will bring some DNA of Manchester United with that character: such a strong driver and that is also what he shows as a coach.
‘He has the skills and already a lot of experience by assisting the Dutch squad. In PSV (Eindhoven) he did the Under-19s and the Under-21s, and he was managing the first team.
‘So much experience but so young and very ambitious and very driven. With his skills and his intelligence, he will help all the players and the team.’
Despite winning the FA Cup last season, Ten Hag admitted that it was important to freshen up his coaching team which also included replacing Hartis with former Burnley goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar.
‘We did well (last season),’ added Ten Hag. ‘We achieved what we wanted to achieve, but we can’t sit still.
‘We want to go forward and we are so pleased to get in Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake to bring some new dynamic and initiative and innovation. Rene and Ruud will bring a new energy and dynamic.’
Hake, 52, has been brought in from Go Ahead Eagles where he led the Deventer-based team into Europe for only the third time in their history.
‘In a lot of areas he has experience,’ said Ten Hag. ‘He started at a very young age as a coach. He was coaching from Under-6 all up to the highest. The last years he was only working with seniors, as assistant coach but also mainly as head coach and managers.
‘He has experience at Utrecht and now at Go Ahead Eagles, and there he did a magnificent job to lead that team into Europe in the Conference League. It was the biggest surprise from last year.’