Ten Hag explains Rene and Ruud appointments

Friday 12 July 2024 11:08

Erik ten Hag believes his new assistant managers Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy will bring fresh energy and ideas to Manchester United.

The Dutch duo have signed two-year contracts with the Reds and replace Benni McCarthy and Mitchell van der Gaag in the coaching set-up.

During his pre-season interview, Ten Hag was asked about his compatriots and why the changes have been made ahead of 2024/25.

“I think we did well. We achieved what we wanted to achieve, but we can’t sit still,” said Ten Hag.

“We want to go forward and we are so pleased to get Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake in, to bring some new dynamic, to bring some new initiative and innovation.”

Erik: Coaches bring new dynamic Video

Erik ten Hag goes into excellent detail when explaining the appointments of Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy…

Van Nistelrooy is a United legend, scoring 150 goals in 219 appearances for the club between 2001 and 2006.

The former striker retired in 2012 and began his coaching career the following year, culminating in a year-long spell at the helm of PSV Eindhoven, where he won the KNVB Cup in 2023.

Ruud was linked with vacancies at Burnley and Leicester City over the summer, so his return to Old Trafford can be seen as a real coup and Ten Hag clearly values what he’s achieved to date.

“First of all, his character has brought him so far and it’s an example for everyone here in the building,” Erik added.

“Of course, he will also bring some DNA of Manchester United in, but that character is such a strong driver and that is also what he shows as a coach.

“He has such a highly interesting profile, he’s so ambitious, he has the skills and he already has a lot of experience.

“He’s assisted the Dutch squad, in PSV he did the Under-19s as a manager, he did the Under-21s, Jong PSV, who were playing at the second level and then he was manager of the first team.

“So much experience, but very young, very ambitious, very driven. With his skills and his intelligence, he will help all the players and the team.”

Hake may be less familiar with an English audience, but the 52-year-old has made a name for himself at some of the Eredivisie’s more unfashionable clubs, including Erik’s former teams Go Ahead Eagles and Utrecht.

Rene guided the former to European qualification last season and has an impressive CV which will hopefully come to bear at Carrington.

“So, in a lot of areas he has experiences,” the boss said. “He started at a very young age as a coach and he was coaching from, I would say, under-six all up until the highest.

“So the last years, he was only working with seniors, as assistant coach but also in the last years as a head coach, as a manager.

“In the second level, in the highest level, his experiences at Utrecht, at Go Ahead Eagles, where he did a magnificent job to lead that team into Europe and the Conference League. That was the biggest surprise from last year.

“With all his experience, for him it counts the same as for Ruud. They will help us, they will bring innovations, they will bring new energy and dynamic.”

Back to Top