Erik Ten Hag’s attempt to recruit Steve McClaren as his assistant manager at Old Trafford was rejected by the Manchester United board.
Man United eventually announced the signing of the Ajax coach on a three-year contract with a fourth-year option on Thursday.
After the season, Ten Hag will formally take over at Old Trafford, replacing Ralf Rangnick.
The new manager wants to transfer his coaching team from Ajax to Man United, but he also wants to bolster his backroom staff with someone familiar with the Red Devils.
Man United’s board, according to the Telegraph, has shown ‘resistance’ to the plan, and it is unclear whether the manager will be successful in achieving it.
Man United’s board of directors wants Ten Hag to assess the current staff at Old Trafford before making a decision on bringing McClaren to the Theater of Dreams.
In the past, between 1999 and 2001, McClaren worked for two years under legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, helping the club win three league titles and the treble in his first season.
McClaren credited Ten Hag with helping him win the Eredivisie title in his second season at FC Twente, where he was McClaren’s assistant.
