There are a host of former Manchester United players in coaching right now and Erik ten Hag will actually run into one of them next weekend.
Mark Robins has gone from being the man who ‘saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s job’ at United to managing Coventry City.
Robins and the Sky Blues face United in the FA Cup semi-finals and he will be looking to dump his former club out.
Richie Wellens, Michael Carrick and Darren Ferguson are in EFL management right now whilst Tom Cleverley is the caretaker manager at Watford.
We have seen many ex-United players go from playing under Ferguson to being in the dugout.
United were even managed by one of Ferguson’s former players in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer between 2018 and 2021.
Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, the list goes on and on – and one former United player could be returning to the Premier League.
Gabriel Heinze’s infamous Manchester United demise
Not many players directly cross the divide between United and Liverpool; in fact, not many have even played for both.
Gabriel Heinze wanted to join the list though and infamously pushed for a move to Anfield back in 2007.
Heinze had joined United from Paris Saint-Germain three years earlier and recorded 83 appearances for the club.
Patrice Evra came in and affected Heinze’s playing time, leading to the Argentinian wanting a transfer – and that’s when he wanted to join Liverpool.
Ferguson completely refused to sanction the deal and is understood to have stated that there was ‘no way’ Heinze would be allowed to make the move.
Heinze allegedly enlisted help from a member of Liverpool’s legal team to try and force through a deal, a quite remarkable step in this saga.
Liverpool did offer the £6.8million United wanted for Heinze but the rivalry between the two clubs meant David Gill and co stood firm.
Just weeks later, Heinze did get his transfer as he joined Real Madrid having given himself absolutely no route back to United with his actions during the Liverpool pursuit.
READ MORE: Manchester United transfer history 2013 to present day
Heinze linked with Arsenal
Heinze finished his career with Marseille, Roma and Newell’s Old Boys before turning to management with Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Juniors and Velez Sarsfield.
A spell with Atlanta United in Major League Soccer didn’t go to plan and Heinze returned to Newell’s in October 2022, spending more than a year in charge.
Heinze is now weighing up his next move and we could actually see him return to the Premier League.
Argentinian reporter Leandro Alves claims that Heinze recently met up with former PSG teammate Mikel Arteta.
It’s stated that Heinze is an option to become the new San Lorenzo boss but there could yet be a job on offer at Arsenal alongside Arteta.
Heinze is understood to be in London today as he continues to spend time with Arteta.
Arteta’s assistant Albert Stuivenberg – formerly of United himself – has been linked with becoming Ajax boss this summer.
Arteta may be eyeing up potential replacements for the Dutchman and Heinze may be the man, possibly paving the way for him to return to Old Trafford as a coach.