Manager

Manchester United appointed Erik ten Hag as the club’s newest manager in April 2022 on an initial three-year contract. The Dutchman left Ajax to succeed interim coach Ralf Rangnick.

Old Trafford chiefs hired Ten Hag on a contract until June 2025 with the option for a further 12 months. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the Red Devils’ previous full-time manager but left the club in November 2021. Michael Carrick also took charge temporarily until Rangnick arrived.

Manchester United opted to appoint Ten Hag as the club’s latest permanent manager after his successful five-year spell with Ajax. The Haaksbergen-born coach guided the Amsterdam club to three Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Beker cup wins whilst at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s past coaching career

Ajax enjoyed a dominant period under Ten Hag before the Dutchman took over Manchester United in 2022. De Godenzonen ended his debut season at the helm second in the Eredivisie table. Yet they would go on to win the following three titles available prior to his departure.

Ten Hag also had Ajax sitting atop the Eredivisie table in 2019/20 before the KNVB opted to abandon the season. It chose against continuing the term following an initial postponement due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. There was not a champion or relegated clubs.

Ajax had not lifted an Eredivisie title since 2013/14 before Ten Hag led the club to their first title together in 2018/19. De Godenzonen chose to name the 53-year-old as Marcel Keizer’s replacement after Ten Hag led FC Utrecht to fifth and fourth-place finishes in the Eredivisie.

He spent two-and-a-half seasons with FC Utrecht following earlier stints at Go Ahead Eagles and Bayern Munich II. Ten Hag would also guide De Godenzonen to the Champions League semi-finals through the 2018/19 season in which they eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus.

Ten Hag oversaw an impressive 74 per cent win rate at Ajax – better than all of their previous managers over the preceding 20 years including Louis van Gaal. He also won 19 cup matches out of a possible 22. While his Godenzonen teams scored 593 goals to just 184 conceded.

While at Ajax, Ten Hag handed first-team debuts to 21 different academy players. It showed his commitment to youth development with a number of future and current stars given their chance. Ryan Gravenberch and Noa Lang were among those who debuted under the coach.

Erik ten Hag’s coaching career:

• Manchester United manager (July 2022 – June 2025 expected)
• Ajax manager (December 2017 – June 2022)
• FC Utrecht manager (July 2015 – December 2017)
• FC Bayern II manager (July 2013 – June 2015)
• Go Ahead Eagles manager (July 2012 – June 2013)
• PSV Eindhoven assistant manager (July 2009 – March 2012)
• FC Twente assistant manager (July 2006 – June 2009)
• FC Twente Under-19s manager (July 2003 – June 2006)
• FC Twente Under-17s manager (July 2002 – June 2003)

Erik ten Hag’s playing career

Before turning to a career in coaching in 2002 with the youth set-up at FC Twente, Ten Hag had also enjoyed a 13-year playing career. The Dutchman retired in 2002 following his third spell with FC Twente, where the former centre-half also started his career way back in 1989.

The Tukkers product emerged from the FC Twente academy but left soon after for a spell at De Graafschap. Yet Ten Hag returned to the city of Enschede between 1992 and 1994 before stints at RKC Waalwijk and FC Utrecht. He then re-joined FC Twente once and for all in 1996.

It was during Ten Hag’s third and final stint with FC Twente that the defender lifted the only trophy of his playing career. He helped De Godenzonen secure the KNVB Beker in 2000/01.

Erik ten Hag at Manchester United

Manchester United enjoyed a positive start to Ten Hag’s spell as their manager during 2022. The Premier League named the Dutchman as its Manager of the Month for September after he kicked their term into gear. They beat Leicester City and ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start.

Ten Hag scooping the award also saw him become just the second Manchester United boss to do so since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Solskjaer stood alone in that category from his February 2019 gong. But Ten Hag went on and claimed a second title for February 2023.

He has since won the Carabao Cup with the Red Devils and guided his side to top four in the Premier League going into the 23/24 season.

He remains at the helm heading into 2024 and will be looking to have many more successful years with Manchester United.