Erik ten Hag is leaving his post as the Manchester United gaffer for next season, leaving a huge hole for the club to figure out who is best to fill that massive gap left behind by the Dutch coach. Will it be an ex-player who steps in to take over the new team, or will it be a manager in another league?
If Manchester United want any hope of getting into the top five this year or making it to the Champions League or Europa League, they will have to choose a seasoned boss who can lead the team to victory in more ways than one. They need new players, a good playing style, attacking threats going forward, and a strong defense.
If Erik Ten Hag and Manchester United get on the same page, they could be signing the Eagles manager.
Manchester United Could Sign Go Eagles Manager
One man who is currently in the right position to fight for a spot in the Manchester United clubhouse and boardroom is Rene Hake. Rene Hawk might join Manchester United alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy, two Dutchmen who already know Erik ten Hag well, to see if they can use their collaborative skills to lead Man U to victory once more.
Rene Hake is a former Dutch player and current head coach of Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie Club in the Netherlands. He began his managerial career with Emmen and Twente underage sides between 2003-2010, developing his coaching style and learning how to work with elite-level players as a young manager. Therefore, there is a bright side to why he has been hired for his new role.
Then, he moved to Zwolle and Twente for the senior sides and helped both teams as an assistant manager between 2012 and 2015. Eventually, he became the head gaffer for Twente, Cambuur, Jong Utrecht, Utrecht, and the Go Ahead Eagles now from 2022 onwards. Currently, Hake’s record with the Go-Ahead Eagles is 28-20-28 in all competitions played, with a 36.84 win percentage.
Although this may not seem good enough for Manchester United, Erik ten Hag knows Hake and how he operates. If he works together with van Nistelrooy as the coaching staff next year, Manchester United might have a chance to best their spot on the ladder from last year.
Manchester United Looking Forward
Manchester United ended the 2023-2024 Premier League season terribly. They ended up in eighth place on the ladder, ending just a few points above West Ham United and finishing below Newcastle United. They finished way outside of the zone for Europa League or Conference football this year, meaning big-name players like Fernandes and Casemiro won’t be in international competitions with their club.
They need to start the 2024-2025 season better than they finished last year. Despite big wins against Brighton and Newcastle toward the end of the year, they lost 4-0 to Crystal Palace, drew against Bournemouth, suffered a 4-3 loss to Chelsea, and drew against Brentford 1-1. For Manchester United to reach the top five spots this year, they need to beat the lower-level teams and avoid getting scored on 3+ times in one game.
Will Hake and van Nistelrooy make a difference at Manchester United? Only time will tell.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.