Manchester United have brought in goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar from Ajax, despite the 43-year-old only signing for the Dutch giants earlier this summer.
Ten Rouwelaar had been working under Vincent Kompany at Burnley, joining the Clarets in 2022, but decided to leave when the Belgian departed for Bayern Munich earlier this summer.
The Dutchman signed for Ajax but Manchester United have already swooped and have brought him back to England after a very short stay in Amsterdam.
The Red Devils will have to pay compensation to Ajax for the coach, with Dutch publication AD reporting that it will be €100,000 (£84,000).
On the appointment of his compatriot, United manager Erik ten Hag said: ‘Jelle is experienced with English football and he has some great innovations in goalkeeping, a new approach and it’s very interesting.
I’m convinced he will really help our game, as a team, but especially the keepers, as a squad, as a team, their position in the team and how they’re aligned with the rest of the team and playing as a collective.’
Ten Rouwelaar has also coached at NAC Breda (where he spent most of his playing career), Anderlecht and Netherlands Under-20s.
The new goalkeeping coach joins Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy as additions to the staff at Old Trafford, with Hake and club legend Van Nistelrooy joining as assistant managers.
New sporting director, Dan Ashworth, said: ‘Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first-team operations, and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that.
‘It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player, and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.
In something of a coaching overhaul, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy have left the club.
Ten Hag said: ‘Mitchell has decided that now is the right time for him to pursue his own ambitions in a number one position; I want to pay tribute to his fantastic service over the past two years, and also to Benni for his important contributions. We send them our thanks and best wishes for the future.
