Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake has confirmed that he will seize the “great opportunity” to join Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at Manchester United, Soccernet.football reports.
The composition of Ten Hag’s backroom staff has been a key topic in United’s discussions with their manager over the past week as they work to finalize a new contract agreement.
United are restructuring Ten Hag’s backroom team this summer, with popular coach Benni McCarthy expected to depart when his contract expires, and both Hake and former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy coming in as replacements.
Despite having nine years of senior management experience, Hake, who previously worked with Ten Hag at Twente told Algemeen Dagblad that accepting United’s offer for a coaching position was a “no-brainer.”
Hake described the chance to join Manchester United as a “great opportunity” and admitted that things “could not get any crazier” for him.
Ten Hag has openly discussed his positive relationship with the Dutchman, who, along with Van Nistelrooy, will help fill the gaps left by McCarthy’s departure and Eric Ramsay’s move to Minnesota United in February.
Hake and Ten Hag began their coaching careers in the youth departments at Twente, where they developed similar tactical principles centered on compact structures and involving all players in both attack and defense, making their link up at Old Trafford a promising prospect.
Reports indicate that the Red Devils must pay a release clause in Hake’s contract with Go Ahead Eagles, which the 52-year-old renewed in October.
The cost to United will be “a few hundred thousand euros,” a relatively insignificant fee that will undoubtedly be much appreciated by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
