Ruud van Nistelrooy has been pictured arriving at Manchester United's training ground ahead of starting work as part of Erik ten Hag's new backroom staff.
The club have yet to confirm the appointments of assistant managers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, and goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, as the three Dutchmen wait for their visas to be granted.
But Van Nistelrooy, Hake and Ten Rouwelaar were all at the Carrington training ground on Monday morning when United’s first non-international players reported back for pre-season.
Former United striker Van Nistelerooy, 48, turned down the Burnley job to return to his old club, having previously led PSV Eindhoven to second place in the Eredivisie and victory in the Dutch Cup.
Hake, 52, has been persuaded to give up his job as Go Ahead Eagles manager despite leading the Deventer-based club into Europe for only the third time in their history.
Ten Rouwelaar, 43, was Burnley’s goalkeeper coach for two seasons under Vincent Kompany before joining Ajax this summer, but he has been tempted to join the new-look coaching staff at United under Ten Hag.
Mitchell van der Gaag, who was No.2 to Ten Hag during his first two seasons at United after working alongside him at Ajax, is expected to leave as part of the reshuffle while United’s other assistant, Steve McClaren, remains in talks over his role at the club. Goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis also faces an uncertain future following Ten Rouwelaar’s arrival.
New co-owners Ineos have rung the changes since taking over football operations at United, bringing in Omar Berrada as chief executive, Dan Ashworth as sporting director and Jason Wilcox as technical director.
They decided to keep Ten Hag after United beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup but are reshaping the backroom team.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana were among the players snapped driving into Carrington this morning ahead of their first training session.
Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy returns to the club where he scored 150 goals across a five-year spell after impressing across his senior coaching career, including at PSV.
Hake, meanwhile, worked with Ten Hag at FC Twente and led Go Ahead Eagles to an impressive ninth-placed finish in the Eredivisie last season.
He has already confirmed he will reunite with his former colleague at United.
'The feeling I have is difficult to describe, but this is, of course, a great opportunity for me,' Hake told Voetbal International.
'Working in the biggest league in the world, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
'It is also a wonderful reward for me. The fact that I can go to the top of the world from Go Ahead Eagles is unique. Of course, I am grateful to Erik for this opportunity, but it is not about us knowing each other well. We just have to do good work.
'Erik has a role in mind for me, we discussed that. As in any staff, all tasks are divided among the assistants.'