Despite his prolific achievements with Ajax, Ten Hag has yet to take charge of a match in any of Europe’s top five leagues, which amounts to risk for United. Still, it is also a risk for him, who is betting his reputation on the promise of a better Manchester United in the future. Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, the player that Eric ten Hag worked with at Ajax, is a target of interest to Manchester United. He would surely be the perfect signing for the Dutchman, who is keen on bringing the Cruyffian style of football to Old Trafford. Under Eric ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to get the ball a lot closer to the target. However, United will indeed sign another striker, not necessarily one who replaces Ronaldo, but who turns 38 in February. Ten Hag may not have immediate pressure to overtake Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League. However, he said at his first official press conference he was there to bring an end to their reign of domination, but as far as winning back the Premier League, his time is now ticking.
Erik Ten Hag was appointed Manchester United’s new manager in April, and the Dutchman took over the job permanently at the end of the season. Manchester United confirmed Ajax head coach Eric ten Hag would become their new head coach starting with the 2022/23 season. Erik ten Hag is an experienced manager with experience across multiple European leagues, having been head coach at Ajax since 2017, leading them to two Eredivisie titles and also reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals in 2018/19.
Erik ten Hag is considered to be one of Europe’s most progressive coaches, having guided Ajax to five trophies over the last four seasons while playing an attractive, attacking brand of football. Erik ten Hags first managerial gig followed Dutch second-tier outfit Go Forward Eagles in 2012, where he guided the club to their first promotion in 17 years before taking over Bayern Munich II, the German giant’s reserve side. After two years in Bavaria, Eric ten Hag returned to the Netherlands as manager of Utrecht in 2015, taking fifth place in his first season and fourth place in the next campaign, leading them to European Cup qualification.
Former England coach Steve McClaren who worked with Sir Alex Ferguson throughout the time of the Sir Alex Fergusons reign at United has returned to Old Trafford as part of the Ten Hag’s coaching staff, with Mitchell Van der Gaag, who was his right-hand man at Ajax this past season relocating to Manchester.
