Mike Phelan will NOT be part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching team as the new Manchester United boss shuffles the pack and club weigh-up another role for the highly-respected 59-year-old
- Mike Phelan and current backroom staff will be departing Manchester United
- Erik ten Hag is bringing in his own group to help his attempt to turn club around
- Phelan was a player and the assistant manager under Sir Alex Ferguson
- He then came back to work under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his No 2
- Phelan will not be in dugout with Ten Hag, although he could have role at club
Mike Phelan and Ralf Rangnick’s backroom staff will leave the Manchester United coaching team as part of a reshuffle following Erik ten Hag’s appointment.
Phelan was a player and assistant manager under Sir Alex Ferguson before returning to the club in 2019 as No 2 to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 59-year-old is hugely respected at Old Trafford and may continue his association with United in some capacity depending on the outcome of discussions, but he will not be in the dugout alongside new boss Ten Hag.
Ralf Rangnick’s backroom staff, including Mike Phelan (right), will no longer be in the coaching team under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford next season
The three men brought in by interim manager Rangnick – first-team coaches Chris Armas and Ewan Sharp and psychologist Sascha Lense – will leave Old Trafford, but goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis and set-piece specialist Eric Ramsay are staying on.
The club declined to comment on Tuesday and said discussions with staff members over their future roles are ongoing.
United confirmed on Monday that Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren will be Ten Hag’s assistants, and it’s understood that a new first-team coach is also set to join the staff.
Phelan is a highly respected member of the club and they could find another role for him
Ten Hag has promised to break Manchester City and Liverpool’s grip on English football, but admits it will take time and that a top-four place is the first goal.
‘I said this is the project, to bring Man United back on top, but also we have to accept the current situation we are in,’ he said in a club interview.
‘First of all, Man United belong in the Champions League, so that will be the first target.’
Ten Hag knows his mission is to overhaul Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League
