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The Manchester United board, after a season filled with doubt surrounding Erik ten Hag's leadership, made a bold decision this summer.
Rather than opting for a managerial change, the club chose to strengthen his position by bringing in Dutch legends Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake as key assistants. Along with the addition of several Dutch players, it’s clear United have placed a significant bet on Dutch influence. But will it work? Only time will tell as the season unfolds.
Across Europe, questions loom over the direction of major clubs. Will Todd Boehly's ambitious squad-building efforts at Chelsea finally pay off? Will Barcelona's transition from Ilkay Gundogan to Dani Olmo deliver the results fans expect in La Liga and the Champions League? At Old Trafford, however, the focus is squarely on whether United’s Dutch experiment will succeed.
Instead of making short-term decisions, the Manchester United board doubled down on Erik ten Hag, renewing his role and appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake to bolster the coaching team. The shared Dutch nationality between the coaching staff and key players, like Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, and second-season Tyrell Malacia, creates a unique bond at the club. This influx of talent from the Netherlands could represent a new era for United.
Many of the players come from Ajax, where ten Hag earned his reputation, bringing figures like Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, and Antony to Manchester. The confidence the owners have in ten Hag's judgment is clear as they fully support his choices, even when bringing in Van Nistelrooy, a Premier League legend, to accept a secondary role after coaching at PSV. Rene Hake, another trusted assistant with a coaching resume that spans from Twente to Utrecht, is a key part of this structure.
This investment in the coaching staff is a long-term gamble. The United board has convinced leading figures to step back into supportive roles, and Ten Hag is already relying on their insights in early-season matches. TV cameras frequently catch the trio in deep discussion during games, with Ten Hag jotting down notes based on these valuable exchanges.
In addition to coaching strength, the summer signings of De Ligt, Zirkzee, and Mazraoui reinforce United’s desire to build a squad for the future, even if results haven’t fully materialized yet. The narrow win over Fulham, secured by Zirkzee, showed potential, but defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool were stark reminders that Manchester United still have a long road ahead.