Upload video Video is not available The video will play automatically soon8Cancel Play now Erik ten Hag in profile as Man Utd “open conversations” with Ajax boss Incumbent Manchester United manager Eric Ten Haag, an assistant at Old Trafford, will be Mitchell van der Gaag, and the manager will play a key role in the summer reversal at Old Trafford. Van der Gaag went into coaching after 18 years of career in the Netherlands, Scotland, Portugal and Saudi Arabia. He is a former Dutch international under the age of 21, who started his coaching career with the reserve team of Maritimo just a few miles away from the childhood home of Cristiano Ronaldo on the island of Madeira. After being promoted to take over the first team of Maritimo, he moved to Belenenses. Van der Gaag started his career after fearing for his health and spent a short time in Cyprus with Ermis before returning to the Netherlands with FC Eindhoven, Excelsior Rotterdam and NAC Breda. He became close with Ten Haag when he was appointed coach of Jong Ajax, the youth team of the Amsterdam club. Ten Haag makes final decision as Manchester United assistant coach, but Van Persie’s role awaits Eric Ten Haag’s big plans for Manchester United – and what it could mean for Ronaldo He helped form a formidable background team with former Dutch internationals Michael Reiziger and Winston Bogarde. Ajax tried to persuade Van der Gaag to reject United’s offer, but his relationship with Ten Haag won the argument. Van der Gaag is fluent in five languages - Dutch, English, Spanish, Portuguese and French – and was a great young center-back who seemed destined to play at the highest level when he invaded PSV Eindhoven until he had a serious problem. injury that left him out for more than two years. He also played for Sparta Rotterdam, the Scottish team Motherwell, Utrecht and Maritimo. Van der Gaag’s father, Wim, was a well-known sports radio commentator in the Netherlands. Isabelle’s wife is the daughter of Jan Gisbers, the cycling coach who helped both Pedro Delgado and Greg LeMond win the Tour de France. The couple has four children and the family’s main home is still in Portugal because sons Jordan and Luca have agreed to Benfica’s youth academy. Van der Gaag has gained a reputation for developing young players at Ajax – a quality that will resonate with United. Ten Hag is the form manager who presides over each workout. But Van der Gaag offers him a second pair of eyes and has excellent management skills. He usually watches matches from above in the stands to have a better picture of the match but stays in touch with the Ajax bench. Tell us your opinion! Will United challenge again under Ten Hague? Let us know in the comments section Ajax coach Erik ten Hag of and Mitchell van der Gaag, when he was head of Excelsior Rotterdam before a match of the Dutch Eredivisie in May 2018 ( Picture: Getty Images) Van der Gaag described his philosophy in an interview in the Netherlands before returning home. He warned that there is no hiding place for players under his watch. Van der Gaag said: “I used to have discussions with the whole team, but as a field coach I am moving further and further away from that. Players increasingly prefer one-on-one conversations. This takes a lot more time and energy, but I have a feeling I can reach my players better this way. “I sit with players every week and we look at how he played with the shots. As a result, I can demand a lot more and you also have a greater sense of responsibility from the player. They can hide in a group. It’s not just about good weather. If I’m not satisfied, I’ll say it. Then everyone will know where he is. “I talk to everyone. If I do not, and suddenly we have to call a substitute, I do not want to pay attention to this player for the first time. You do not want a player to think “oh, suddenly he has time for me, now I’m suddenly important”. “I am, of course, quite calm – but I do not escape a conflict either.” read more Erik ten Hag experts tell Man Utd what to expect from his new workaholic control freak boss read more Sir Alex Ferguson throws Keane’s block into United sparring saves his life
