Manchester United confirm arrival of former Motherwell star ahead of Erik ten Hag era

Former Motherwell centre-back Mitchell van der Gaag has been officially appointed Manchester United assistant manager.

The 50-year-old's move to Old Trafford has been awaited after Erik ten Hag was announced as Red Devils boss following time at Ajax.

Van der Gaag was assistant to the new Reds boss in Amsterdam and now returns to UK football for the first time since ending his two-year Fir Park stint in 1997.

He was heavily linked with a return to ML1 as boss in 2014 but has since forged an impressive coaching CV.

It began in Portugal with Maritimo and then Belenenses, whom he led to the Primeira Liga. He returned home to the Netherlands in 2015 after a spell in Cyprus, working at FC Eindhoven, Excelsior and NAC before joining Ajax in 2019.

A club statement reads: "Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren as Erik ten Hag’s assistant coaches, as the new manager’s backroom team takes shape.

"Van der Gaag's appointment is subject to Governing Body Endorsement from the FA and a UK visa.

"His playing career included experience of British football, with two years in the Scottish top flight with Motherwell."

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