McClaren is reunited with Ten Hag and Old Trafford

UNITED have confirmed the appointments of Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren.

Erik ten Hag has joined United on a three-year contract with the option of an additional year and he was officially unveiled to the media on Monday afternoon. Ahead of that press conference, United confirmed two backroom staff appointments.

Van der Gaag and McClaren, who were in attendance at United’s final game of the season at Crystal Palace, have been appointed as Ten Hag’s assistant coaches. Both have previously enjoyed successful spells with Ten Hag and the latter has already worked at Old Trafford. McClaren worked under Sir Alex Ferguson for two trophy laden years between 1999 and 2001.

Fifty-year-old Van der Gaag’s coaching career began in Portugal with Maritimo and then Belenenses, whom he led back to the Primeira Liga by winning the Segunda Liga. Van de Gaag returned to the Netherlands in 2015, where he worked with FC Eindhoven, Excelsior and NAC before joining Ajax in 2019. Van der Gaag won three Eredivisie titles in just under five years with Ten Hag at Ajax.

McClaren won the Treble, two more Premier League titles and the Club World Cup during his previous stint at United. He left the club in 2001 and managed Middlesbrough, FC Twente, Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest, Derby, Newcastle and Queens Park Rangers.

McClaren and Ten Hag worked together at FC Twente in McClaren’s first year in the Netherlands. McClaren had arrived in Holland without any of his own coaching staff and Ten Hag remained at the club after working as an assistant under the previous manager.