Newcastle flop Steve McClaren is reportedly set for Man United role

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Former Newcastle manager Steve McClaren looks set for a remarkable return to the Premier League with Manchester United.

The Red Devils announced on Thursday that Erik ten Hag will be their new manager. He’s leaving Ajax at the end of the season and will be heading to Manchester.

Interestingly, the Dutchman was a target for Newcastle. It was even claimed they were willing to make him one of the highest paid managers in the Premier League.

But Ten Hag remained with Ajax, and will now be the next Manchester United manager. And he’ll be joined by a name that sends shivers down the spines of Toon fans.

Steve McClaren to be Erik ten Hag’s assistant

According to the Telegraph, McClaren will be appointed as one of Ten Hag’s assistants at Old Trafford. It’s a familiar role for McClaren, who was previously Sir Alex Ferguson’s righthand man.

McClaren knows Ten Hag well, having worked with him in the Netherlands during his spell as Twente boss.

It will be the 60-year-old’s first Premier League job since 2016, when he was sacked by Newcastle. Interestingly, the final nail in coffin for McClaren at St James’ Park was a defeat to Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.

McClaren was a disaster for the Magpies. He brought in some decent players in the summer of 2015, but they didn’t gel. By the time he was sacked in March 2016, Newcastle were staring relegation in the face. They were relegated at the end of that season, with Rafa Benitez unable to inspire a survival mission.

There aren’t many fond memories of the Steve McClaren era at St James’ Park. Florian Thauvin’s tuxedo and Gini Wijnaldum’s inability to shine away from home stand out.

Not many players remain from McClaren’s squad. There’s just Jamaal Lascelles, Karl Darlow, Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett.

A lot has changed since the ‘wolly with a brolly’ was relieved of his duties at St James’ Park. But he’s set for a return next season, as he’ll be sat in the away dugout when Ten Hag’s Manchester United travel to the North East.