Demba Ba admits he almost joined Manchester United’s coaching staff last season. The former Premier League striker was seen as the perfect match by former interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
It was during the time Ralf Rangnick spent at the club and despite his interest in accepting the job, Ba was unable to team up with the new Austria national team coach because of visa complications.
Most of you will remember Ba from his time at Newcastle and Chelsea – or that goal he scored against us in the Champions League for Istanbul Basakeshir in 2020.
Whilst being interview by the i, Ba said: “When Ralf got appointed he called me, he said to me he wanted me on his staff. He said: ‘You know the Premier League, you know players, you have a background that is close to theirs, you speak English and German and you can be the link between the squad and my staff.
“For him he saw it as a perfect match and I’d be able to help him, he thought they’d respect me for who I was and what I’d done in the Premier League. It was a six-month assignment to go in and help but it didn’t happen because the visa didn’t get accepted.
“For me it’s not a regret. Getting experience is always good – it would have been good to get that experience. I’m still working as hard as ever in life, probably even more now.”
New manager Erik ten Hag is preparing for his first game of the Premier League season and he will be hoping for a better win percentage rate than Rangnick! The Dutchman replaces not only the Germany, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer too following the Norwegian’s dismissal in November.
United recently added Benni McCarthy to his coaching staff, while Tom Huddlestone becomes player-coach in the academy.
There has been lots of changes and we hope to see more.
