Manchester United target Erik ten Hag is likened to Sir Alex Ferguson by Steve McClaren… who claims his former FC Twente No 2’s ‘attention to detail and organisation’ is reminiscent of the legendary boss
- Erik ten Hag is reportedly a frontrunner to become the next Man Utd manager
- Steve McClaren has worked with the Dutchman during his time at FC Twente
- He insists Ten Hag’s meticulous planning and in-game analysis is second to none
- The only other manager he has seen with those qualities is Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United target Erik ten Hag’s attention to detail and organisation is reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson, says Steve McClaren.
Ten Hag, 52, is being heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford amid United’s hunt for a new permanent manager, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick expected to shift into a director’s role at the end of the season.
Along with Mauricio Pochettino, the Ajax boss has emerged as one of the frontrunners to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – and McClaren is certainly an admirer.
The former England manager worked with Ten Hag during his first stint at FC Twente, keeping him on as assistant manager after joining the Dutch club.
Steve McClaren has likened Manchester United target Erik ten Hag to Sir Alex Ferguson
During an interview with The Telegraph, McClaren waxed lyrical about his meticulous planning, ability to analyse games in real-time and and recommend influential changes.
The only other manager he had seen demonstrate those qualities was a man he described as ‘the gaffer’, alluding to legendary ex-United boss Ferguson.
McClaren added about Ten Hag: ‘His great strength lies not just in his attention to detail and organisation.
‘He has a clear philosophy of how he wants to play football; the environment he wants to create.
Ten Hag appears one of the frontrunners to take the permanent reins at Old Trafford
McClaren insists his former FC Twente assistant’s attention to detail is second to none
The ex-England boss also spent several years working alongside Ferguson at United
‘The player progression programme was a key part of Twente. He has done that at Ajax too, for each player from the academy to the first team.
‘You look at Hakim Ziyech and now the [Brazilian] striker Antony, a very good player who will be the next one to go. I have seen this Ajax team and it’s very good.
‘Erik is very disciplined and people have to buy into that and have that work ethic. Tactically he’s outstanding.
‘He worked with Pep [Guardiola] at Bayern Munich and took in his philosophy too. They called him “Mini Pep” out there.
‘He’s ready. A lot of top clubs in Germany and England will be out to get him.’
He says Fergie is the only other manager he has seen with the same meticulous eye as Ten Hag
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