Amid the bright yellow inflatable training dummies at Manchester United’s Carrington training grounds, the goalkeepers are lying flat on their stomachs, poised to spring into action. In an instant, they flip over and race toward color-coded cones. Andre Onana lets out a triumphant roar as he finishes first.
Goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar then leads the group into the next drill: catching tennis balls, deflecting footballs downward, and swiftly rotating 180 degrees before catching an oncoming volley, all while maintaining sharp footwork.
Nearby, on the adjacent field, the outfield players begin their session. Assistant manager Rene Hake, dressed in shorts, stands shoulder to shoulder with manager Erik ten Hag, sharing a laugh. Meanwhile, Ten Hag’s other assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy, chats with defenders Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. First-team coach Andreas Georgson engages in conversation with fellow Scandinavians Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof.
This new coaching team, consisting of Hake, Van Nistelrooy, Georgson, and ten Rouwelaar, represents the fresh additions to Ten Hag’s staff, each of them joining the manager this summer on contracts lasting until 2026. The group includes three Dutchmen and one Swede, brought in following the departure of key staff members from Ten Hag’s previous regime.
Former assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy, who had joined in 2022, have since left the club. Steve McClaren, who previously served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant and returned to United in 2022, took on a new role as head coach of Jamaica. Additionally, goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis’ contract expired, and former United player Darren Fletcher, while still involved with the club, now serves in a different capacity.
As Erik ten Hag faces increased pressure, his refreshed coaching staff works diligently behind the scenes to improve the team’s performance and help United climb out of the bottom half of the Premier League table. But who are these key figures, and what do they bring to the team?
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Assistant Manager
Van Nistelrooy moves across the field, carrying small goals on his shoulders, setting up for the training session—a far cry from the goal-scoring exploits of his playing days. The United legend netted 150 goals in 219 appearances between 2001 and 2006 under Sir Alex Ferguson. Now, he’s back at the club under Ten Hag, a role he admitted to the club’s website he couldn’t turn down.
Ten Hag has described Van Nistelrooy as “young” and “ambitious,” noting his deep connection to Manchester United’s identity. However, Ten Hag emphasizes that it’s Van Nistelrooy’s character that sets him apart.
Despite his legendary status, Van Nistelrooy remains grounded and approachable. Within days of his arrival, he made the effort to learn everyone’s names, sits with all members of staff—not just the coaching team—and always greets women’s team manager Marc Skinner whenever their paths cross.
Van Nistlerooy talks to Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford before their Carabao Cup match against Barnsley (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
During the match, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s friendly, bespectacled demeanor transforms. Whether he’s glued to his laptop analyzing images or bursting from his seat to the touchline, his emotions are fully on display. The 48-year-old has already been cautioned twice this season, against Porto and Brentford, for his passionate outbursts directed at the fourth official.
Despite this intensity, Van Nistelrooy has become a fan favorite. After the dramatic 3-3 draw against Porto, he made a point of crossing the pitch to applaud the traveling United supporters, and after the 0-0 draw at Villa Park, he took time to soak in the crowd’s appreciation.
“We’re not here for ourselves, we’re here to improve the club,” Van Nistelrooy said upon his return to United.
Interestingly, his former Heerenveen manager, Foppe de Haan, never envisioned Van Nistelrooy as a coach. When Van Nistelrooy sought advice on transitioning into management, De Haan told him, as reported by Dutch outlet Noes Voetbal, that coaching is “a profession of experience.”
Van Nistelrooy’s coaching career began with PSV Eindhoven’s youth teams, and he briefly assisted the Dutch national team. He then made the leap to head coach at PSV, leading them to second place in the 2022-23 season and capturing both the Dutch Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield. Though he left just before the season’s final game, The Athletic recently reported that Van Nistelrooy could be considered for an interim managerial role at Manchester United if Erik ten Hag were to depart.
At United, Van Nistelrooy works alongside assistants Rene Hake, Andreas Georgson, and Darren Fletcher. They usually lead the first 30 to 40 minutes of training, each contributing in various ways throughout the session. Ten Hag, however, takes control the day before a match, focusing on match-day tactics.
Van Nistelrooy has designed his own training drills to emphasize possession and passing accuracy. During the pre-season in the U.S., he led a session on building play from the back under pressure and maximizing the team’s use of width.
Given his legendary career as a striker, it might seem natural to expect Van Nistelrooy to focus primarily on improving United’s forwards’ finishing. Yet, as Ten Hag pointed out during the summer, and as Rasmus Hojlund reiterated after his match-winning goal against Brentford, Van Nistelrooy’s influence extends across all areas of the pitch.
“Everybody’s asking me this question,” Hojlund said after his winner against Brentford. “Yes, obviously, he’s helping us every day, but he’s also helping the defense and the midfield. He’s given me a lot of good advice.”
Van Nistelrooy is known for his hands-on, supportive coaching style. He often works one-on-one with players, while also keeping an eye on the overall team dynamic. His playing career undoubtedly strengthens his bond with the squad.
“He has always enjoyed playing football immensely, and he wants to convey that to his players,” De Haan said. “Developing and performing are important, but having fun is perhaps the most important thing.”
PSV fans saw a glimpse of Van Nistelrooy’s fun side when he showed off his dance moves in the dressing room after their cup victory.
Woke up like this 😏🕺 pic.twitter.com/CCR0Lqzwwz
— PSV (@PSV) May 1, 2023
Rene Hake, assistant manager
There is a clip in No Guts No Glory, a 2021 documentary about Utrecht, which shows Hake, their manager, ripping into one of his players who had been sent off. “You f***ed up the game!” he shouts.
But that is not a complete representation of the man known by Utrecht’s current manager Ron Jans, who met Hake over 20 years ago and made him his assistant at Dutch side PEC Zwolle in 2013.
“Sometimes he can be very angry but he’s not angry all the time, not at all,” Jans, who worked with Hake for three years, told The Athletic when asked about the video. “This is not Rene Hake.”
Instead, Jans described Hake — a family man from Drenthe, a rural region in the north-east of the Netherlands, where Jans now lives — as “hard-working” and “loyal” with an English sense of humour similar to comedian Ricky Gervais. He is also “very strict”, “demanding” and “asks a lot from the players”.
If players do not follow the manager’s plan, “you’ve got a problem with Rene”, according to Jans. “It’s a team sport,” he continued. “If one player is not helping with the press or doesn’t want to have the ball, if you’re building up under pressure, you fail. He’s very demanding on that and on the training pitch.
“He does not say a lot but is always direct. He was very realistic, not outspoken, but stuck to his opinion.”
Rene Hake has made his name in coaching rather than playing (Ash Donelon/Manchester United/Getty Images)
Rene Hake, unlike his fellow assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy, didn’t enjoy a high-profile playing career. Instead, Hake honed his skills at CIOS, a Dutch vocational institution for physical education training, a path taken by many successful coaches. Most recently, he managed the Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles, but his relationship with Erik ten Hag dates back to the early days of their managerial careers. Ten Hag, two years Hake’s senior, invited him to join Twente’s youth setup, cementing their shared football philosophy.
The pair emphasize similar tactical principles, especially regarding team compactness and maintaining optimal distance between players. Former defender Willem Janssen, who played under both managers at Twente and Utrecht, recalls how both coaches focused heavily on structure, player development, and physical conditioning.
During his time with Janssen, Hake was known for his attention to detail, especially when it came to helping players improve their physical condition and technical skills. Whether it was working on passing accuracy with center-backs or doing extra endurance drills with players returning from injury, Hake earned a reputation as a hardworking and dedicated coach.
“At United, he’s doing much of the on-pitch training,” Janssen explained. “Not only individual and physical training like he did with me but also tactical sessions.” Before the Porto game, Hake led a pressing drill while Ten Hag focused on directing players’ positions for the tactical game plan.
In addition to his on-pitch role, Hake manages the team’s weekly schedule, overseeing day-to-day operations, training sessions, meeting times, and coordinating with the medical and other departments. He always presents the plan to Ten Hag for approval, but he is essentially the team’s planner.
Janssen notes that the trust between Hake and Ten Hag is absolute. While not identical in personality, they share a bond built on mutual respect and understanding. “They can be very serious, but once you know them, they’re funny and social, especially in an environment where they feel comfortable.”
Andreas Georgson, First-Team Coach
Andreas Georgson’s coaching background is as diverse as it is extensive. He has held roles as head coach, assistant coach, sporting director, technical director, and head of youth scouting, among others. In England, though, the Swede is best known for his expertise in set-piece coaching.
Georgson spent a year at Brentford, where he combined responsibilities for set pieces and individual development, before Mikel Arteta brought him to Arsenal to work on attacking and defensive set pieces and throw-ins. After a stint as sporting director at Malmo, Georgson joined Southampton in August 2023 as a set-piece coach under manager Russell Martin.
United’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, who had previously worked with Georgson at Southampton, approached him about joining Ten Hag’s staff. Georgson explained to Swedish streaming service Viaplay that United valued his set-piece expertise but were also interested in his broader coaching experience across multiple aspects of football development.
Andreas Georgson previously worked for Arsenal (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images)
The 42-year-old Andreas Georgson had extensive discussions with Manchester United’s new ownership and sporting leadership before accepting his role. He also had “two long, productive conversations” with Erik ten Hag, where they explored the role and aligned their ideas and goals.
“When I spoke with Erik, we realized there was room for me to contribute beyond just set pieces,” Georgson shared with Viaplay in August. “That’s when I knew it could work long-term. I thought, ‘How often do opportunities like this come around? To do something I love, at a major club?’”
United officially brought Georgson on as a first-team coach to work closely with Darren Fletcher. Georgson’s duties go beyond set pieces, as he’s often involved in drills, tactical preparation, and analysis sessions. However, his primary focus remains working alongside a video analyst to improve the team’s set-piece strategies.
“I have a knowledge base that not many do, and set pieces are football’s ‘ugly duckling,’” he explained to Viaplay. “No one gets excited about defending corners, but everyone knows set pieces account for 30 percent of goals. It has such a huge impact, and that’s really rewarding.”
On match days, Georgson can be seen briefing substitutes on their set-piece responsibilities or stepping into the technical area to guide the team in dead-ball situations. After the Porto game, he congratulated Harry Maguire for his stoppage-time equalizer from a corner.
Improving United’s attacking set pieces has been a key challenge since Ten Hag took charge. In his first season, United scored only 2.4 goals per 100 set pieces—joint-worst in the Premier League. Though they improved to 3.3 goals per 100 set pieces the following season, they still ranked 16th in this area.
Though Georgson is the only Swede among the new coaching additions—the others being Dutch—he says he values their directness and openness to debate. Reflecting on the club’s global reach, he was struck by the intensity of United’s following when they played Liverpool in North Carolina.
“It was absolute chaos—people everywhere, the intensity, the interest,” Georgson told Viaplay. “That’s when it hits you—you’re as far from Manchester as possible, but the stadium’s packed with 80,000 fans, and there’s this hysteria around the team.”
Jelle ten Rouwelaar, Goalkeeping Coach
After two years working under Vincent Kompany at Burnley, Jelle ten Rouwelaar was set to return to the Netherlands, having agreed to join Ajax in May. However, when Manchester United came calling, he made a quick U-turn, deciding to stay in England to take on the prestigious role at Old Trafford.
Jelle ten Rouwelaar nearly ended up at Ajax this season (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Having amassed more than 300 appearances for NAC Breda, upon his retirement in 2016 he immediately became the Dutch side’s goalkeeping coach. There, he met a 14-year-old Bart Verbruggen, now Brighton’s No 1.
“Without him, I wouldn’t be here now,” Verbruggen, who worked with Ten Rouwelaar for five years and still speaks to him every week, told The Athletic. “So much you see now in my game (is what) he taught me. When I was 15, I didn’t know a lot about the tactical side.
“I have a lot to thank him for. He worked a lot with principles. The goalkeeper training was a lot of basic stuff. Not that basic stuff is bad, but a lot of dives, catches. He did a lot with cognitive exercises in the training sessions as well. He tried to challenge your body and your brain. Those principles you can still see in every game I play.”
Verbruggen said Ten Rouwelaar improved him “without a doubt” and believes all the goalkeepers who have worked with him — at one point all three of the Netherlands’ national team keepers had been developed by Ten Rouwelaar, including Ipswich Town’s Arijanet Muric — would speak highly of United’s new recruit. His style, friendly and relaxed, suits Onana, who gets on well with him too.
Ten Hag recognised the 43-year-old’s experience in English football but also that he coaches goalkeepers to play out from the back.
“I’m convinced he will really help our game as a team, but especially the ‘keeper’s position in the team and how they’re aligned,” Ten Hag said to the club’s website when Ten Rouwelaar joined the club.
Darren Fletcher, first-team coach
“You can’t stand still,” the former United midfielder shouts in the middle of a rondo drill. “Get close, angles, get your legs going.”
Fletcher is the only coaching staff member who has remained with Ten Hag over the summer.
Darren Fletcher with Ten Hag last year (Darren Staples/AFP/Getty Images)
Darren Fletcher has transitioned from his role as Manchester United’s first technical director to a position as a first-team coach. Now more hands-on, Fletcher works closely with both staff and players, serving as a vital link between the first team and the academy.
The 40-year-old plays a key role in advising which academy players should be called up when Erik ten Hag needs extra squad members for training. His long-standing relationships with the players, built from his 16-season Premier League career, are seen as a valuable asset by the club, helping to foster a strong connection between the players and the coaching staff.
Other contributors: Andy Naylor, Carl Anka, Laurie Whitwell
(Top photo: Ruud Van Nistlerooy, Rene Hake and Erik ten Hag; by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)