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Erik ten Hag’s former assistant at Manchester United, Mitchell van der Gaag, has been relieved of his duties by FC Zurich.

Van der Gaag at United

Van der Gaag followed Erik ten Hag from Ajax to Manchester United in May 2022, joining his backroom staff at Old Trafford.

The two men enjoyed a lot of success together at Ajax. They guided the side to three Eredivisie titles. At United, he was one of Ten Hag’s most trusted allies.

Supported by Van der Gaag, Ten Hag’s first season in charge saw United lift the Carabao Cup and finish among the Premier League’s top three.

The subsequent campaign was a tumultuous one in the league but the Red Devils still earned a trophy, winning the FA Cup. United beat cross-town rivals Manchester City in the final at Wembley.

Van der Gaag left United in the summer of 2024 as part of INEOS’ reshuffle of the coaching staff. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the leadership group brought in Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake to offset the exits of individuals like Van der Gaag.

After a brief spell away from football, Van der Gaag was appointed boss of FC Zurich...