Steve McClaren could return to Manchester United with Erik ten Hag

McClaren could be assistant to Erik ten Hag.

Steve McClaren could make a surprise return to Manchester United as Erik ten Hag's assistant, over 20 years after he left his position Alex Ferguson's No 2. United have recently spoken to Ten Hag as they step up their pursuit of a permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who departed the club earlier in the season. The Dutchman is said to have impressed during discussions, with some reports claiming he has nudged ahead of Mauricio Pochettino as the favourite to be named United's next manager at the end of the season.

McClaren could compensate for Ten Hag's lack of Premier League experience.

McClaren worked as assistant to Ferguson between 1999 and 2001 and was part of the club's coaching staff as United won the Treble. The Guardian report that Ten Hag's lack of experience in the Premier League means McClaren is under consideration for the role as his assistant should the Ajax manager be appointed at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag and McClaren have worked together before.

The pair have worked together before, with Ten Hag acting as McClaren's assistant when he was manager of Twente in 2008/09. Ten Hag landed his first management job three years later with Go Ahead Eagles, moving on to coach Bayern Munich II a year later. After two seasons at Utrecht between 2015 and 2017, he was named Ajax boss. Despite operating on a fraction of the budget available to other major European clubs, Ten Hag has established Ajax as Champions League regulars - taking them to the knockout stages again this season. McClaren left United to become manager of Middlesbrough in 2001, staying at the Riverside for five years before being named England boss after the 2006 World Cup. He moved to Twente for the first of his two spells as manager after failing to lead a talented Three Lions side through qualifying for Euro 2008.