Manchester United give Erik ten Hag permission to manage former side this weekend

Erik ten Hag is certain to be a winner this weekend when he returns to former club FC Utrecht for a special cause.

Even after a difficult start to the season for Manchester United, the Dutchman has agreed to take charge of team of former Utrecht players in a testimonial match for club icon Mark van der Maarel. The 37-year-old will celebrate his 17-year spell with the Eredivisie club when a team of former teammates take on the current Utrecht first-team.

Van der Maarel personally asked Ten Hag to take charge of his team in the match, and the manager was happy to oblige after being granted permission by United.

It will be a special occasion for Ten Hag, who spent time as both a player and a manager at Utrecht. Although he only played for the club for one season, he rose to prominence for his achievements at the club as a manager.

In his first season, he led them to the KNVB Cup final, where they lost to Feyenoord and achieved a fifth-place finish in the Eredivisie. In his second season, they finished fourth and qualified for Europe. It was during his third season with the club that Dutch giants Ajax approached him to become first-team manager and took his coaching career to another level.

It is set to be a sell out at Stadion Galgenwaard this weekend, with the United boss likely to receive a glowing reception from a fanbase who still idolise him.