Manchester United, the English Premier League football giant, announced on Monday that its new coach, Erik ten Hag, will play his first match at home against Rayo Vallecano in a friendly friendly at the end of next July.
The match will be held at Old Trafford on July 31 at the end of United’s preparations for the start of the new season on August 6.
Coach Ten Hag’s team will travel to Thailand and Australia as part of a pre-season tour, then play with Atletico Madrid in Oslo and then face 12th-placed Rayo in La Liga last season.
“The pre-season period is related to preparation, and this is a fantastic opportunity for members of our squad who may not be able to participate in the start of the friendly,” United director of football John Murtaugh said in a statement.
“This will be the new coach’s first game at Old Trafford, and I’m sure the fans will give him a warm welcome.”
Ten Hag took charge of United after a frustrating season with interim coach Ralf Rangnick, where he finished sixth in the league and failed to qualify for the Champions League, and only qualified for the European League.