Erik ten Hag adds two new members to Manchester United coaching staff

The incoming manager has welcomed Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag to his backroom team.

Manchester United have confirmed Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag as Erik ten Hag’s assistants for the 2022/23 campaign.

The duo joined the club’s new manager in the stands for Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and have each enjoyed successful spells alongside the Dutchman in the past.

McClaren, for one, had Ten Hag as his assistant during his first spell in charge of FC Twente in 2008. He famously guided the Dutch club to the Eredivisie title in 2009/10.

“I thought I worked hard until I met Erik,” said McClaren of the new Red Devils coach recently. “His great strength lies not just in his attention to detail and organisation. He has a clear philosophy of how he wants to play football; the environment he wants to create.”

The former England, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, and QPR manager also worked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford for over two seasons from 1999 to 2001.

Meanwhile, Van der Gaag spent the past season as Ten Hag’s assistant at Ajax.

The former central defender began his coaching career in 2008 at Portuguese clubs Marítimo and Belenenses. After a brief spell in Cyprus, he returned to the Netherlands in 2015. He has since coached FC Eindhoven, Excelsior, NAC Breda, and most recently Ajax’s senior and reserve teams.