Erik ten Hag ‘set to hire mid-table Dutch club’s manager for his backroom staff’, with Ruud van Nistelrooy also primed to join, as part of Man United reboot for his third season

Erik ten Hag is reportedly set to recruit the manager of a mid-table Eredivisie side as part of his backroom staff for the 2024-25 campaign. 

The Dutchman was believed to be facing the sack at Man United prior to their FA Cup final triumph over rivals Man City but now is in line to earn a new contract at Old Trafford.

As well as earning a new deal, ten Hag is also planning on some changes to his coaching staff, with two new faces expected to be joining the Red Devils. 

According to Fabrizio Romano, ten Hag is expected to add Rene Hake – the manager of Go Ahead Eagles – to his backroom staff for next season. 

Fellow Dutchman Hake has had stints at the likes of FC Twente, Utrecht and now Go Ahead Eagles – who finished ninth out of 18 teams last season – in his career.

Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake is reportedly lined up to join the Dutchman at United

In their 38 matches in 2023-24, Go Ahead Eagles won 16, lost 13 and drew nine – as they averaged 1.36 points-per-game in the Dutch top-flight. 

Ten Hag will know Hake well from their encounters in the Eredivisie, where they battled it out during their respective stints at Ajax and Utrecht. 

Similarly to Hake, ten Hag also managed FC Twente and Go Ahead Eagles earlier in his career.

Meanwhile, Mail Sport previously revealed that Ruud van Nistelrooy could return to United as part of ten Hag ‘s coaching staff at Old Trafford. 

The move would be popular among supporters who remember the Dutchman as one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers following his exploits at United where he scored 150 goals in 219 appearances across all competitions.

Van Nistelrooy is a potential replacement for Ten Hag’s assistant Mitchell van der Gaag or forwards coach Benni McCarthy, whose contract runs out at the end of the month. 

Despite emerging as a leading contender to replace Vincent Kompany as Burnley manager, it’s understood that Van Nistelrooy is interested in returning to United.

Ruud van Nistelrooy could seal a sensational return to Manchester United as a coach

Ten Hag knows Hake (right) well from their encounters in the Dutch top-flight over the years

Van Nistelrooy’s coaching experience includes working as assistant to the Dutch national team and his only job in management at PSV Eindhoven. 

He quit 14 months ago after leading the club to second place in the Eredivisie and victory in the Dutch Cup.

Meanwhile, a deal to extend ten Hag’s stay in England’s northwest is closer than ever after he entered the final 12 months of his initial three-year contract.

Ten Hag is likely to receive an increase on his current salary of £9m-per-year having successfully delivered silverware in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during two seasons at the club.