Now, remarkably, an incredible return to Old Trafford could be on paper after it was revealed to the Guardian that Erik ten Hag could make him his No. 2 if the Ajax coach takes over at United as expected. It could prove to be a sensible choice in many ways for Ten Hag. McClaren not only knows United and English football well, but he also knows the current Ajax coach. Steve McClaren has been Sir Alex Ferguson No. 2 since February in the Man United treble season. Now, he is linked with a return to United if Eric Ten Hague is appointed as the new manager of United Ten Hague and McClaren worked together in the Englishman’s first season on Twente in 2008-09. Ten Haag served as McClaren’s assistant in Twente for his first season in 2008-09 and only recently did McClaren speak hesitantly about Ten Haag ‘s forensic planning, post – game analysis and clever tactical suggestions. Sir Alex Ferguson. “The only other I would see doing that?” McClaren thought in The Telegraph about Ten Hague’s work ethic, “it would be gaffir.” An impressive remark, for sure, but a McClaren is entitled to make that, despite all the dents in his armor, the 60-year-old has a worthy place engraved in Old Trafford folklore. McClaren joined United as Ferguson’s assistant in February of the 1998-99 season, after Brian Kidd left for Blackburn and was his right-hand man for the professional end of the iconic treble-winning season. But he was so unknown that when he arrived at Old Trafford, United president Martin Edwards mistakenly referred to him as “Steve McClaridge” in the media. “It was a tornado,” McClaren recalls. I came in on Thursday and Saturday’s game was an 8-1 win over Nottingham Forest. So I was wondering what to do on Monday morning in training! “And after the end, five months later, undefeated with three trophies, so it was a dream come true and something you sometimes only read about in comics. For me, it was definitely the most difficult but the most memorable five months in my career “. McClaren came in as Ferguson’s assistant from Derby and has been there for over two years McClaren praised the work ethic of United stars, such as David Beckham, during his time there. McClaren and Ferguson have won the championship together in every season of their partnership with United Ferguson gave McClaren a clear plan to apply his ideas to a team that prided itself on a glamorous series of stars – David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Peter Schmeichel to name just a few. He did not miss his chance, but it seemed a bold move for Ferguson to leave a coach who was still pursuing a reputation for leading a team that chases three trophies. Would Pep Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp do it now if Rodolfo Borrell or Pepin Linders left City or Liverpool this February? Its amazing. But it was the Scotsman’s admiration for McClaren that left him with a central role immediately. And like most of Ferguson’s decisions, it was one that worked well. “I think the beauty of coming to Manchester United was the gaffer opening up to new ideas and innovations,” McClaren said. “ProZone, sports psychology, sports science, analytics – that was the beginning of it. It was not just him but definitely the players. “The players were a team that wanted to be the best. “In some dressing rooms, you have a specific 10-15 percent like this, but, in this dressing room, it was 100 percent of the people who wanted to get better, wanted to win and wanted to improve.” These comments are now being made about a United locker room that is constantly being challenged for its attitude and application. Earlier this week, the Manchester Evening News reported that the United team is divided over the idea of taking Ten Hague from Ralph Rangnick, with some preferring Mauricio Potchetino. The situation that United will be in when Ten Haag possibly takes the reins at United, remains to be seen with eight crucial Premier League games that Rangnik will oversee before moving to his role as a consultant. The Red Devils are seventh in the standings and while they are just three points behind fourth and last place in the Champions League, the momentum seems to have been stifled in the team. They have matches against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in these eight remaining games – overturning the three-point deficit against Tottenham and Arsenal feel a big question. McClaren left United in 2001 to pursue his own coaching career, but won the league with Ferguson in the two seasons that followed the treble. He won the Dutch league with Twente last season after Ten Haag left to pursue his own path as a coach. McClaren’s time as coach is best remembered for England’s failure to reach Euro 2008 United have eight games to try to save a place in the Champions League Since then, their administrative careers have led to rival tracks with Ajax lifting their third league title under Ten Haag, while McClaren’s last job was at Queens Park Rangers, where he was sacked in April 2019 after a victory in 15. matches. So will Ten Hague get his ticket back to the top? It would be a remarkable return to the elite coaching staff if so, and it is hard not to imagine that some of United’s locker rooms would be flooded with McClaren’s entry, given his most recent record. He has the affection of United fans, yes, but the deep-rooted illness at Old Trafford would mean that there is no room for patience when the curtain falls next season, whoever is at the helm.
