Who is Rene Hake? Meet Dutch manager linked with coaching staff role at Manchester United

Dutch tactician Rene Hake has been linked with a role in Erik ten Hag's coaching staff at Manchester United. According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils are confident that they can pry the 52-year-old away from his current head coaching role at Eredivisie's Go Ahead Eagles.

Hake started his senior coaching journey at Dutch side Emmen in 2010. He spent time all across the Netherlands, managing PEC Zwolle, FC Twente, SC Cambuur and FC Utrecht before landing his current job in 2022.

He led Go Ahead Eagles to a ninth-placed finish in the 2023-24 Eredivisie campaign, their best finish in more than 35 years. He also led them to victory in Eredivisie's UEFA Conference League qualifying playoffs, ensuring European football for his side in the 2024-25 season.

Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant has compared Hake to Ten Hag due to their affinity for 'total football', which requires every player to contribute to building the team's attack and defense.

Magazine Voetbal International noted that Ten Hag and Hake worked together at FC Twente at the start of their coaching careers. The former was responsible for getting Hake appointed as Twente's Under-19 coach in 2005.

They have shared a great relationship since then. In 2020, the Red Devils manager, then of Ajax, backed Hake after he was appointed as Twente's head coach. He said that his colleague was a 'good' coach, who could bring stability and safety to the struggling side.

Alongside Hake, former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is also set to join Ten Hag's backroom staff, according to Romano. The Dutch trio will be hoping to work in tandem and help Manchester United return to the top of English football.

"Extremely convinced of himself" - When Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag praised Rene Hake

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had nothing but praise Dutch coach Rene Hake, who is increasingly being rumoured as the newest addition to the Red Devils' backroom staff.

Speaking to Voetbal International in 2023, the United boss claimed that he was still in touch with Hake, and that they spoke at length about the beautiful game. He said (via United In Focus):

"After our common period at Twente, we have always kept in touch. We meet up and call each other. You talk about private matters, how things are going at home and with the children. But usually it is about football. [At Twente] he was incredibly driven, ambitious, but also extremely convinced of himself. A trainer who worked very methodically."