Arriving at Manchester United’s training ground before reporting for duty as Erik ten Hag’s new backroom staff member, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has been spotted.
While the three Dutchmen wait for their visas to be approved, the club has not yet confirmed the employment of assistant managers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, as well as custodian coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar.
However, when United’s first non-international players reported back for pre-season on Monday morning, Van Nistelrooy, Hake, and Ten Rouwelaar were all present at the Carrington training base.
Van Nistelerooy, 48, a former United striker, declined the Burnley position in order to rejoin his former team. He had previously guided PSV Eindhoven to the Dutch Cup final and second place in the Eredivisie.
Despite only having guided the Deventer-based team into Europe three times in their history, 52-year-old Hake has been convinced to resign from his position as manager of the Go Ahead Eagles.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy (left) and Rene Hake arrived at Manchester United’s training ground
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United legend Van Nistelrooy is expected to be announced as one of Erik ten Hag’s assistants
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Marcus Rashford also arrived at Carrington ahead of United’s first pre-season training session
Mitchell van der Gaag, who was No.2 to Ten Hag during his first two seasons at United after working alongside him at Ajax, is expected to leave as part of the reshuffle while United’s other assistant, Steve McClaren, remains in talks over his role at the club. Goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis also faces an uncertain future following Ten Rouwelaar’s arrival.
New co-owners Ineos have rung the changes since taking over football operations at United, bringing in Omar Berrada as chief executive, Dan Ashworth as sporting director and Jason Wilcox as technical director.
They decided to keep Ten Hag after United beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup but are reshaping the backroom team.
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New goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar was driven to Carrington in a black Mercedes
Ahead of their first practice, Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana were two of the players spotted pulling into Carrington this morning.
Van Nistelrooy makes a comeback to the team where he spent five years scoring 150 goals after making an impression during his senior coaching career, which included time at PSV.
Hake, on the other hand, collaborated with Ten Hag at FC Twente and guided Go Ahead Eagles to a remarkable ninth-place result in the Eredivisie the previous year.
He has previously stated that he will see his former United colleague again.
‘The feeling I have is difficult to describe, but this is, of course, a great opportunity for me,’ Hake told Voetbal International.
‘Working in the biggest league in the world, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
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Hake (left) has also joined Van Nistelrooy (right) in a coaching capacity at Old Trafford
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Hake (left) worked with Ten Hag (right) at FC Twente and they remained in close contact
‘It is also a wonderful reward for me. The fact that I can go to the top of the world from Go Ahead Eagles is unique. Of course, I am grateful to Erik for this opportunity, but it is not about us knowing each other well. We just have to do good work.
‘Erik has a role in mind for me, we discussed that. As in any staff, all tasks are divided among the assistants.’