Darren Fletcher: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why ex-Manchester United midfielder has joined coaching staff
Fletcher joins first-team staff after Dempsey moves to academy
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Your support makes all the difference.Darren Fletcher will bring different ideas in his new role as part of Manchester United’s first-team coaching staff, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Fletcher - who made 340 appearances for United between 2003 and 2015 - was promoted to Solskjaer's staff on Monday having worked with the Under-16s since October.
The 36-year-old fills a vacancy left by Solskjaer's long-time assistant Mark Dempsey, who is now working as part of the club's academy.
Solskjaer said that Fletcher's knowledge and understanding of United will be an asset in the role but he also hopes that his experiences at West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City will inform his work.
"He's got the Man United DNA and there was a spot open because Mark Dempsey has moved to the academy. We felt he was so valuable there, he's been brilliant in the academy and helping out," Solskjaer said.
"Then when this opening came, Darren has been away from the club a few years but then he's come back doing coaching with the 16s and with his experience of being here through both successful and difficult times, we felt it was right now for Darren to come in and give us that input.
"I think it's also important that we bring ex-players that have been somewhere else.
"I've been somewhere else after having worked under Mick Phelan, Sir Alex and Carlos. We know one way of the coaching but they’ve been at different clubs and got different ideas.
"Fletch, with his ideas and thoughts, will improve us in the backroom staff."
Fletcher won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his Old Trafford career, as well as the FA Cup and two League Cups.
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