Hake relishing his time at Man Utd: A family journey with Paul Vegas

"But when you're there every day, you quickly acclimate to the environment. Even legendary footballers are just regular people. Over time, your main focus shifts towards your responsibilities. The daily grind eventually turns it into the norm, even if you're working at a prestigious club like Manchester United," he tells AD.

Rene Hake says he's beginning to settle in at Manchester United.AdvertisementAdvertisement

"It's not a given that you can work here, so I want to enjoy it. You sometimes forget that. I met Sander Westerveld and Jaap Stam and they urged me to do it. So every now and then I stop and think:  'Wow, I'm here at Old Trafford'."

Hake says that he is now starting to settle in Manchester. The former coach of FC Twente, FC Utrecht and Go Ahead Eagles, says he stayed in a hotel in the city centre during his first weeks to get to know the city. Hake has now found a place to live and his wife and youngest son have also come over.

"That helps with the adjustment.

"I was actually going to go alone, but my son said: 'Dad, can I possibly go to school in England?' We looked into it and it worked out. He is a fan of Manchester United, or actually of every club where Erik is a coach. He just had to pass his HAVO exams and that worked out fine. It has now become an adventure for us as a family."