Rene Meulensteen has confessed that he slipped a letter under Sir Alex Ferguson’s door, which led to him becoming Manchester United’s first team coach.
Between 2007 to 2013, he was first team coach under Sir Alex, having previously worked in the club’s development setup.
Meulensteen said on talkSPORT that Tottenham and Scotland star Dave Mackay recommended him to the Red Devils’ renowned manager.
Sir Alex, he said, had called him while he was in Qatar with Al-Sadd and agreed for him to travel to England during a break.
“Hi Rene, it’s Dave here, has Sir Alex Ferguson called you?” Dave said. and I burst out laughing since he was always cracking jokes.
Rene Meulensteen tells the extraordinary story of how he became Sir Alex Ferguson’s first team coach at Manchester United.
“Sir Alex rang me.. it was unreal!” 😅
📝 “He invited me to England for a chat. I wrote a letter and slid it under his door!”
Rene Meulensteen shares the remarkable story of how he became Fergie’s assistant. pic.twitter.com/m8uxqEx1KN
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 3, 2023
I said “No, I have just rung up to Prince Charles” so he was laughing, but he said “No, no, he was going to ring you.’
‘I then said “Have you checked the number as Qatar has added an extra five” and ten minutes later Sir Alex Ferguson rang me.
‘We had a phone conversation for approximately 20 minutes that was absolutely unbelievable,’ Meulensteen added.
‘We arranged to meet in England during a break because he claimed Dave Mackay had spoken to him about me and suggested me as a coach and a person.
‘He said he’d love to meet me, and that’s how I first met him.’ Rene Meulensteen tells the extraordinary story of how he became Sir Alex Ferguson’s first team coach at Manchester United.
Meulensteen claimed that the first time he visited Manchester United’s Carrington training complex, he penned a letter.
The 59-year-old claims he slipped the note under Ferguson’s door to persuade him to work with the club’s development and reserve teams.
‘It basically said that there is this task coming up with the reserves and why would we look outside when the solution is inside he,’ I responded, adding that I would love to accept it because I would love to show you how all of the technological development is implemented in a team environment.
‘I was then working with the reserves, with guys like Gerard Pique and Jonny Evans, and it worked out incredibly well.’
Meulensteen managed Danish side Brondby after working with Manchester United’s development teams.
Following the recommendation of senior players at the club, he later returned to United as a first team coach.
‘He [Sir Alex] had spoken to a number of senior players, all of whom urged, “If you have the opportunity, bring him back, but to the first team set-up as we can all benefit.”
‘That’s how I ended up as first team coach after Carlos Queiroz quit.’
In the 2008 season, Meulensteen was a member of the coaching staff that supervised three Premier League crowns and a Champions League success.
Man United also won consecutive League Cups, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup during his period working with the team.
