On July 9, according to the Mirror, Van der Gaah, the most trusted assistant of Erik ten Hag within Manchester United, has left the club.
Manchester United is tight-lipped about the reasons for Van der Gaah’s departure. The 52-year-old assistant coach was very popular among Manchester United players. Not only was he highly professional, but he also spoke five languages including English, Spanish, and Portuguese, making him a crucial link in communication within the dressing room.
Van der Gaah’s departure came without warning. Perhaps it was because ten Hag believed that his coaching team needed fresh blood, or perhaps it was a personal decision by the new owner of Manchester United, the Glazer family; the exact reasons remain unclear.
Since ten Hag took over Manchester United two years ago, Van der Gaah had been his most trusted assistant. In ten Hag’s coaching career at Ajax, Van der Gaah had already started working with him.
Worth noting, there have been significant changes to Manchester United’s coaching team for the new season. Former Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has successfully joined, and Dutch coach Mitchell van der Gaah will also become an assistant to ten Hag.
In Manchester United’s first training session of the new season, Van Nistelrooy and Mitchell van der Gaah reported for duty at Carrington Training Ground. They toured the training facilities at Carrington, greeted the players warmly, and then immediately got down to work.
