Manchester United's coaching line-up will look quite different to some supporters come next season. Erik ten Hag has seen the departure of Mitchell van der Gaag and Eric Ramsay, with Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in to fill their shoes.
Ramsay left in February for a managerial role in the United States, while Van der Gaag's exit was only confirmed this month. The latter, who served as Ten Hag's trusted assistant for three years at both Ajax and United, decided he 'wanted to pursue a career in management'.
Van der Gaag and Ramsay were key figures in leading training sessions at Carrington , and their absence is sure to be felt in the 2024/25 season. Ten Hag is said to be the tactical driving force behind the team, with his coaches reinforcing his strategies. Van der Gaag and Ramsay played crucial roles in preparing the squad and planning sessions, duties believed to have been taken over by Hake and Van Nisterlrooy.
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While the day-to-day operations of Ten Hag's backroom staff may not thrill fans, they offer insight into the performances seen on matchdays.
The reshuffling of Ten Hag's coaching staff can be viewed from both a positive and negative perspective. The introduction of new faces, including the exciting appointment of Van Nisterlrooy, should inject fresh ideas and ward off complacency.
However, Ten Hag has parted ways with trusted allies, and it's intriguing that both Hake and Van Nisterlooy held managerial positions previously, potentially diluting the manager's authority.
Van Nisterlooy was in discussions to take over at Burnley before seizing the opportunity to coach at United, leading some cynics to suggest he's well-positioned for the top job if Ten Hag is dismissed during this season.
The impact of these new coaching additions on training and team dynamics remains to be seen. United have also brought on board Jelle ten Rouwelaar as their new goalkeeping coach, and another newcomer is set to join in the form of Lillestrom manager Andreas Georgson, who will serve as a set-piece coach.
Norwegian reports indicate that United will look to release Georgson from his contract with Lillestrom. Georgson was appointed as Southampton's set-piece coach by Old Trafford technical director Jason Wilcox during his tenure in the St Mary's Stadium boardroom.
It's believed that United's technical director is behind the move and is set to bring in someone to manage an area that Ten Hag took greater control of when he joined from Ajax in 2022.
Georgson boasts an impressive resume, having honed his set-piece coaching skills at Brentford, Arsenal and Southampton. Whether Ten Hag would opt for a new set-piece coach himself remains a point of contention.
Ten Hag is reportedly 'much more involved' in set-pieces than his predecessors, with the process being a collaborative one, further bolstered by the input of a set-play analyst. Georgson's appointment is set to shake up United's current approach to set-pieces both on and off the pitch, potentially diminishing Ten Hag's influence.
Liverpool.com says: It is never a good idea to go against the manager's wishes and the hiring of a set-piece coach would diminish Ten Hag's responsibilities at Old Trafford. He was kept on by United this summer but it appears there may have been some conditions to that agreement.
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