OLD TRAFFORD season ticket holders never want Manchester United to lose.
But Hull City assistant Dean Holden will again put childhood loyalties aside in Saturday’s Premier League opener.
Hull City assistant (left) is a lifelong Manchester United fan and season ticket holder – but Saturday he means war Credit: Getty
Hull City host United in their first Premier League opener since 2016 Credit: Shutterstock
Holden is a lifelong Red Devils fan and has had an Stretford End season ticket for 34-years – but will be plotting United’s downfall in the rival dugout for Saturday’s Premier League opener.
United have always been central to life for Salford-born Holden, though keeping the newly-promoted Tigers in the top-flight is now his priority.
Sign up for the Man United newsletter
Thank you!
He previously managed against United when he was Charlton boss for a 2023 League Cup game and was also Bristol City’s No2 when they stunned Jose Mourinho’s United in the same competition in 2017.
Holden explains how he found out about the opening-day meeting, telling JattvibeSport: “I was waiting at home all morning for the fixtures to come out and I had to take our youngest son Chase to school.
Classy Kane
Harry Kane praised for classy gesture after Jamal Musiala’s second collapse
MATCH OF THE D-DAY
Mass exodus fears at MOTD as top pundits plot to flee amid ‘huge rows’
“As I got in the car my phone just started to blow up. My dad was ringing and Danielle was at home, my wife with the other kids.
“It was a great moment because it’s a big part of my life is that football club.
“My very first day in the job of being the Charlton manager was the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw when we played United.”
Holden played over 400 EFL matches as a defender for 10 different clubs, many of the years scuppered through injury, but the season ticket has been in his family since 1992.
Holden spent four years at Bolton Wanderers Credit: Alamy
And his phone has been ringing off the hook with calls for tickets from friends about Hull’s first game back in the top-flight in nine years.
He joked: “I’ve just had people coming out of the woodwork asking for tickets and it’s a nightmare. It’s an absolute nightmare and I’m scrambling.”
Holden previously said United are “in his blood” and he was an Old Trafford ball-boy as a kid.
He told JattvibeSport: “My dad was a steward at Old Trafford and he has taken me around to pretty much every side of that stadium over the years from being a young kid.
“So all my memories of being a kid, of going to games and queuing up overnight for tickets and going around the country watching them.”
When he took his Charlton side to Old Trafford for the last-eight tie almost four years ago, then-manager Erik ten Hag left him a gift after Marcus Rashford’s late double ended any hopes of a cup shock.
His friend later Googled the bottle of red wine gifted by Ten Hag—only to discover it was valued at a whopping £1,500.
He said: “We’ve still not opened that. So that’s going to be one for the kids in the future, hopefully. My kids also got one of Rashford’s signed shirts too.
“I learned a lot from Ten Hag and to get him behind closed doors without any cameras, he was really honest.
“He was extremely kind and generous with his time and his advice. I’m always trying to learn and find new ways of doing things, so he appreciated that.”
Holden and Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic had a row during their first meeting in Turkey Credit: Shutterstock
Despite the romantic opening-day storyline, Holden is hellbent on helping manager Sergej Jakirovic keep Hull in the top flight, reminding the squad to look at the long haul.
Holden and Jakirovic first met face-to-face in a heated touchline clash in the Turkish Super Lig during early 2025, while Holden was working at Adana Demirspor and Jakirovic was managing Kayserispor.
He said: “Sergei’s assistant recognised me during the Hull interview and I got the job. They appreciated I took over an already-relegated side and wanted someone who knew the Championship.
“Maybe squaring up to an opposition manager is the secret to success and hope he might give you a job in the future! It went in my favour in the end and the rest is history.
With promotion secured, Hull are finally free of EFL transfer restrictions ahead of the 2026–27 season.
The club had been serving a two-window fee limitation—reduced from three on appeal—over late payments to rival clubs.
Holden added: “We need to look at the bigger picture. The United game is the first game of the season, and it is not going to dictate our whole season.
“Sergej and his team deserve so much credit. To turn up in English football unannounced and to get promoted with a transfer embargo, is one of the most magical things that’s happened in the Championship in the last 20 years.”
Holden and his TV presenter wife Danielle have started a family YouTube show Credit: Instagram
The camaraderie between the two is obvious when Sergej wanders into the room mid-interview, cheekily trying to negotiate a guest appearance on Holden’s family YouTube channel, Holden It Together.
The YouTube show will cover Hull’s first season in the top-flight since 2017 and offers an insight into grief.
Holden and TV presenter wife Danielle tragically lost their daughter Cici, aged 17 months, after she contracted meningococcal septicaemia, while they were on holiday in Lanzarote in May 2012.
The family hopes their channel serves as a beacon for others facing loss—proof that even in the darkest moments, couples and families can work through grief together.
Holden explained: “When Cici passed we were on the canvas for a long time. We miss her every day.
“Now we hope that if you watch us in action at home in our real life, it’s a tale of hope and inspiration, showing how we can come through something so tragic and devastating.
“We’re trying to shine a light on just a real honest family who are trying to have a little bit of fun and not take life too seriously.
“It sounds a bit cliche, but if it can help one person, because there will be someone sat at home and struggling who maybe reads or listens to this and thinks, bloody hell, he’s in a tough industry himself, but he’s still prepared to talk.
“And I say to people all the time, ‘give me a shout on Instagram or anything’, I’m always up for talking about stuff like this.
“I’ll be honest, it helps me selfishly because I’m able to talk about Cici, it’s been a long time that we’ve not been with her and we miss her.”
The couple’s children Joey, Ellis, Mitzi and Chase, who wants to be a YouTuber, are all characters on the fun channel.
Joey and Ellis joined Holden on ‘lads’ holiday in Ibiza this summer, with Steven Gerrard and his wife Alex sorting them out a VIP table at Ocean Beach when it was sold out. Danielle flew out for the day.
Holden was hired as Gerrard’s assistant at Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq in 2024 after delivering a “stinging attack” in his interview.
The current Hull coach replaced Ian Parker on the Anfield hero’s staff after impressing during an interview at London airport hotel.
Holden said: “He almost sees the game in slow motion. He is one of the greatest players this country has ever produced.
“Whether you are a United fan or not. He is one of the greatest. I got to spend that time inside his head. He’s incredible at handling pressure and his work ethic is second to none.”
Gerrard invited Holden to do a presentation as part of his interview process in early 2024, asking him to analyse a poor performance from Al-Ettifaq.
Holden said: “I just thought I’ll be honest with him, he comes from where I come from, he’s worked his way up from humble beginnings to megastardom.
“It was a tough process but I delivered a stinging attack on his team’s performance and he appreciated my honesty and my take on football.”
Holden himself has dreams head coach return one day after stints with Oldham, Bristol City, Stoke City and Charlton. But first it is all steam ahead with Hull’s Prem season.
Premier League 2026-27 fixtures in full
HERE is the full schedule for the 2026-27 Premier League fixtures…
