Coach reveals subterfuge to secure Manchester United job – Plan to get big job

Former Manchester United coach René Meulensteen has revealed how he secured his job at the club.

ELF Voetbal have an interview with the former coach today. he talks about all things Manchester United, including how he got himself promoted under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Meulensteen had a long and successful spell as a first-team coach at Manchester from 2007 to 2013 but first joined the club in 2001 as a Youth Technical Skills Development Coach. He then moved up the ranks, enjoying the same role at first-team level before becoming a first team coach in 20078.

He was a key part of a side that won 14 trophies during his time on the staff. Getting promoted was no easy feat, though. In fact, he had to employ subterfuge to get his application in front of the Manchester United manager.

“I wanted to slip an application letter under the door of his coaching staff’s office before Ferguson arrived at Carrington,” he said.

“It was a challenge, as he walked in at six o’clock every day. Security rightly asked what I was doing there at 5:30. Later that morning, I had to go to Ferguson.

“He thought the letter under the door was a funny idea, which led to me being asked to revitalize the reserve team. Players like Gerard Piqué, Giuseppe Rossi, and Fraizer Campbell were there. The mission succeeded, resulting in the Reserves winning the treble.”

Six great years at Manchester United

Ferguson was clearly a fan of Meulensteen and was sorry to lose him in 2006. He left that summer to succeed Michael Laudrup at Bröndby IF.

The Manchester United manager permitted the departure, much to Meulesteen’s surprise at the time.

“I expected Ferguson to decline, but he said he understood the interest,” he added.

“Of course, I had ambitions, and he didn’t want to stand in the way. Deep down, I knew later that I hadn’t made the right choice.”

Six months later, Meulensteen resigned. And he insists that a call from Ferguson followed soon after, urging him to return to Manchester United.

“First as a technique coach,” he concluded.

“When Carlos Queiroz left after the season to become Portugal’s national team manager, Ferguson said I would lead the pre-season with Mike Phelan,” he concluded.

“No external coach was brought in. It all went swimmingly from day one. I had six fantastic years as first-team coach. We knew what we wanted. How we wanted to play. With high intensity, individual moves, and quick combinations; that’s how we wanted to win a lot of games.”