MX23RW : Sunday, November 20 05:25:44| >> :120:19581:19581:

Edwin van der Sar 'contacted by Manchester United over director of football role'

Van der Sar 'contacted by Man United over director of football role'
© Reuters
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag spoke to Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar last week over a possible return to Old Trafford, according to a report.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag reportedly spoke to Edwin van der Sar last week over a possible return to Old Trafford in a director of football role.

The 51-year-old spent six years with the Red Devils at the end of his career, winning four Premier League titles and the Champions League during a successful period.

Van der Sar has been Ajax's CEO since 2016, and he has been heavily linked with a return to Man United in a staff role over the last few seasons due to his work in Amsterdam.

According to Voetbal Primeur, Ten Hag was in contact with the former goalkeeper last week to discuss a possible move to Old Trafford in the near future.

Last year, the Dutchman said that he was "extremely happy in Amsterdam" but refused to rule out a move back to Manchester to seek a "new challenge".

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured on October 19, 2022© Reuters

"Your name once in a while pops up, of course I've got a connection with Man United but I'm extremely happy in Amsterdam," he told The Athletic.

"There's always a next step, you want to have new experience, 'lets see if he can do the trick another time' probably in the end as a player you sort of feel the urge to take the next step, new challenge, you're on a dead track.

"For example, at Ajax I wanted a new challenge [and] went Juventus, at Juventus I was a dead track, ended up at Fulham — maybe stayed one or two years too long — in the end, I got the deal or the transfer that could finish my career at a high then playing six years.

"Probably at the end you want to go for the next challenge, but at the moment we're extremely fine here in Amsterdam."

Ten Hag swapped Ajax for Man United over the summer, with the 52-year-old leaving the Dutch giants having delivered three league titles and two Dutch Cups during his time at the helm.

Manchester United players celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's goal against Everton on October 9, 2022© Reuters

The Red Devils made a shaky start to the season under Ten Hag's leadership, losing their opening two Premier League games to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford.

However, the 20-time English champions have won nine of their last 12 games in all competitions, and they will enter Saturday's clash with Chelsea off the back of a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

During his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag was asked what it would be like facing Graham Potter for the second time already this season, with the Dutchman losing to the now Chelsea manager's Brighton side on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

"It's nothing, I think from that game. It's a different game, different team. Yes, some different players, we are further in the process so I don't take - of course, I know more about him and the first time he knew maybe more about me," said Ten Hag.

"And that is maybe an advantage because he maybe knows more about Manchester United in the first game, so now I'm longer in the UK - in the Premier League - so tomorrow, good fight. But it is not a fight between managers, it is a fight between teams: Chelsea, Manchester United."

Man United will be without two first-team forwards at Stamford Bridge, with Anthony Martial still on the sidelines through injury, while Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended by the club after refusing to enter the field as a substitute against Tottenham last time out.

ID:497618:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6369:

Click here for more stories about Erik ten Hag

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
N'Golo Kante warms up for Chelsea in December 2021
Read Next:
Potter: 'Kante contract not a priority at the moment'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
World Cup fixtures header 3
Sunday, November 20
 
1pm
 
7pm
 
10am
Sunday, November 20
 
4pm
Monday, November 21
 
1pm
 
7pm
Tuesday, November 22
 
1pm
 
4pm
Wednesday, November 23
 
10am
 
1pm
 
7pm
Thursday, November 24
 
4pm
 
7pm
Friday, November 25
 
10am
 
7pm
Saturday, November 26
 
4pm
Sunday, November 27
 
1pm
 
4pm
 
7pm
Monday, November 28
 
10am
Tuesday, November 29
 
3pm
 
7pm
Wednesday, November 30
 
3pm
Thursday, December 1
 
3pm
 
3pm
 
7pm
Friday, December 2
 
3pm
 
7pm
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal14121133112237
2Manchester CityMan City14102240142632
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1586129111830
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs1592431211029
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd148242020026
6Liverpool1464428171122
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton146352319421
8Chelsea146351717021
9Fulham155462426-219
10Brentford154742325-219
11Crystal Palace145451518-319
12Aston Villa155371622-618
13Leicester CityLeicester155282525017
14Bournemouth154471832-1416
15Leeds UnitedLeeds144372226-415
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham154291217-514
17Everton153571117-614
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest153481130-1913
19Southampton153391327-1412
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves15249824-1610

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!