Rene Meulensteen, a former first-team coach under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, has returned to English football with a new role as director of football methodology at League One club Stockport County. This appointment serves as a reminder of the influential backroom staff Ferguson assembled during his 26-year tenure at Old Trafford, during which the club secured seven major trophies with Meulensteen's assistance.
Meulensteen, a 62-year-old Dutchman, spent over a decade away from English football, managing clubs like Maccabi Haifa in Israel and Kerala Blasters in India, alongside international coaching roles with Australia and Iraq. His new position at Stockport County involves building an "elite football department" in collaboration with the club's first-team staff and academy.
Key Figures in Ferguson's Backroom Staff
Ferguson's success was often attributed not only to his leadership but also to the tactical acumen and player development strategies of his trusted coaches and assistants. These individuals played a crucial role in Manchester United's dominance, which included 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League victories.
Carlos Queiroz, widely considered Ferguson's most influential assistant, served two stints at Manchester United between 2002 and 2008. He was instrumental in modernizing the team's tactics and was part of the squad that won back-to-back league titles and the 2008 Champions League. After leaving Manchester, Queiroz embarked on an international coaching career, managing Portugal, Iran (leading them to three World Cups), Colombia, Egypt, Qatar, and Oman. He most recently served as the head coach for Ghana ahead of the 2026 World Cup, guiding them to the knockout stages. The 73-year-old is currently awaiting his next opportunity.
Mike Phelan, a former Manchester United defender, became a close confidant, serving as assistant manager from 2008 until Ferguson's retirement in 2013. He first joined the club as a coach in 2001 and was part of the teams that won five Premier League titles and a Champions League. After Ferguson's departure, Phelan briefly stayed on under David Moyes before managing Hull City. He later returned to Manchester United as assistant manager to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from 2018 to 2022. The 63-year-old is currently working as a football consultant and ambassador.
Brian Kidd was one of Ferguson's early key assistants, serving from 1991 to 1998. A former United player, Kidd returned to Old Trafford and was pivotal in the development of the famed "Class of '92," including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes. After leaving United, he moved into management with Blackburn Rovers and held various coaching roles, eventually joining Manchester City's staff in 2009. As assistant manager at City, he helped secure two Premier League titles. The 72-year-old left Manchester City in 2024 after 15 years and has stepped away from full-time coaching.
Steve McClaren, who served as Ferguson's No. 2 from 1999 to 2001, leveraged this role for his first managerial position at Middlesbrough, leading them to a League Cup win and a UEFA Cup final. He then managed the England national team but was dismissed after failing to qualify for Euro 2008. McClaren rebuilt his reputation by winning the Eredivisie title with FC Twente and managed several other clubs, including Wolfsburg and Newcastle. In 2022, he returned to Manchester United as Erik ten Hag's assistant before becoming the head coach of Jamaica in 2024. The 65-year-old was recently appointed head of football at Rotherham United, a newly created strategic leadership role.
Archie Knox, who had previously worked with Ferguson at Aberdeen, assisted in rebuilding Manchester United between 1986 and 1991, during a transitional period for the club. After leaving United, Knox had coaching roles with Rangers, Everton, and the Scottish national team, as well as spells at various other clubs. The 79-year-old has since retired from full-time coaching and largely stepped away from the public eye, remaining a respected figure in Scottish and English football.
Eric Harrison was not Ferguson's direct assistant but had a profound impact on player development. Joining United as youth team coach in 1981, he was instrumental in nurturing the "Class of '92," providing Ferguson with a core group of players who would dominate English football for years. Harrison continued to influence youth development after leaving full-time coaching at United, working as a consultant and coach educator. He passed away in February 2019 at the age of 81, with Ferguson calling him "one of the greatest coaches of our time."