Erik ten Hag explained

Erik ten Hag
Full Name:Erik ten Hag
Birth Date:2 February 1970
Birth Place:Haaksbergen, Netherlands
Height:1.82 m[1]
Position:Centre-back[2]
Currentclub:Manchester United (manager)
Years1:1989–1990
Clubs1:Twente
Caps1:14
Goals1:0
Years2:1990–1992
Clubs2:De Graafschap
Caps2:54
Goals2:6
Years3:1992–1994
Clubs3:Twente
Caps3:45
Goals3:2
Years4:1994–1995
Clubs4:RKC Waalwijk
Caps4:31
Goals4:2
Years5:1995–1996
Clubs5:Utrecht
Caps5:30
Goals5:2
Years6:1996–2002
Clubs6:Twente
Caps6:162
Goals6:3
Totalcaps:336
Totalgoals:15
Manageryears1:2012–2013
Managerclubs1:Go Ahead Eagles
Manageryears2:2013–2015
Managerclubs2:Bayern Munich II
Manageryears3:2015–2017
Managerclubs3:Utrecht
Manageryears4:2017–2022
Managerclubs4:Ajax
Manageryears5:2022–
Managerclubs5:Manchester United

Erik ten Hag (born 2 February 1970) is a Dutch professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Manchester United.

Ten Hag played as a centre-back and began his career with Eredivisie club Twente. He joined De Graafschap in 1990, and won the Eerste Divisie in his first season. He rejoined Twente in 1992 and transferred to RKC Waalwijk two years later, where he remained for one season before signing with Utrecht in 1995. Ten Hag returned to Twente for a third time in 1996, where he won KNVB Cup in 2001. He retired in 2002, at age 32.

Ten Hag began his managerial career in 2012 at Go Ahead Eagles, where he led the club to promotion to the Eredivisie in his debut season. He then joined Bayern Munich II in 2013, winning promotion to the Regionalliga Bayern in 2014. He returned to the Netherlands in 2015 as sporting director and head coach at Utrecht. He joined Ajax in 2017, where he won three Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups and led the team to the semi-finals of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League. In 2022, he was appointed as manager of Manchester United, where he has won the EFL Cup and the FA Cup.

Early life

Erik ten Hag was born on 2 February 1970 in Haaksbergen, Overijssel.[3]

Playing career

ten Hag played primarily as a centre-back for Twente, De Graafschap, RKC Waalwijk and Utrecht. He had three stints with Twente, with whom he won the KNVB Cup in the 2000–01 season.

ten Hag also won the Eerste Divisie with De Graafschap in the 1990–91 season, ten years before winning the cup with Twente. He retired from active playing in 2002 at the age of 32 while playing for Twente, after the end of the 2001–02 Eredivisie season.

Managerial career

Pre-managerial career

Following his retirement, Ten Hag took on a coaching role at Twente's academy, initially overseeing the U17 team, followed by the U19 team until 2006, when he was promoted to assistant manager. He worked under Fred Rutten and later Steve McClaren until 2009. He then joined PSV, working as an assistant under Rutten once more.[4]

Early career

In 2012, Ten Hag was appointed as manager of Go Ahead Eagles in the Eerste Divisie by Marc Overmars, who was a shareholder of the club.[3] [5] During his only season at Go Ahead Eagles, he led the team to its first promotion in 17 years.[4]

He coached Bayern Munich II from 6 June 2013, until 2015, when he was replaced by Heiko Vogel.[6] [7] During his time as manager, Ten Hag led his team to the Regionalliga Bayern.[8]

Ten Hag then became the sporting director and head coach of Utrecht in summer 2015, on a two-year deal.[9] In his first season, he led the club to the 2016 KNVB Cup final, losing 2–1 to Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Feyenoord;[10] a league finish of fifth put them in the playoffs for a UEFA Europa League place, losing 3–1 on aggregate to Heracles Almelo.[11] The following season, a fourth-place finish put Utrecht in the playoffs again, where they secured a European place on penalties against AZ.[12] Utrecht were sixth when Ten Hag left at the mid-point of the 2017–18 Eredivisie season.

Ajax

2017–18 season

On 28 December 2017, Ten Hag was appointed as the head coach of Ajax after the club dismissed Marcel Keizer.[13] He signed a deal until June 2020. He arrived at a team that had already been eliminated from the domestic cup, as well as the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League.[14] His debut on 21 January 2018 was a 2–0 home win in De Klassieker against Feyenoord.[15]

2018–19 season

Ten Hag led the team to the semi-finals of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1997, by winning against defending champions Real Madrid 4–1 in the Santiago Bernabéu at the round of 16 stage,[16] and also beating Juventus away 1–2 having drawn the first leg 1–1 at home in the quarter-finals. In the first leg of the semi-final, he led his team to a 1–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the recently completed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.[17] However in the second leg, a second-half hat-trick by Lucas Moura for Tottenham Hotspur, with the last goal being scored in the 96th minute to make it 3–2 (3–3 on aggregate) to win on away goals, eliminated Ajax.[18]

He won his first managerial trophy with Ajax on 5 May 2019, the 2018–19 KNVB Cup, beating Willem II in the final.[19] Ten days later, Ajax won the Eredivisie as well, after a 1–4 away victory over De Graafschap, completing a double.[20] At the end of the season, Ten Hag signed a new contract until 2022.[21]

2019–20 season

Ajax began their 2019–20 season with a 2–0 victory over PSV in the 2019 Johan Cruyff Shield. During the 2019–20 Eredivisie season, Ajax won 14 and drew two of their first 16 matches. This was followed by successive defeats to Willem II and to AZ. Ajax's form following these defeats fluctuated, with the club going on to lose three further games in their next eight, as well as a second league defeat of the season to AZ. However, due to the emergence of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Eredivisie season was null and voided, which meant that despite Ajax being top on goal difference to AZ, there wouldn't be an official winner of the 2019–20 Eredivisie season. Ajax's European campaign was relatively less successful compared to the previous season, having finished third in their group in the 2019–20 Champions League and being subsequently relegated to the UEFA Europa League. Ajax was resultantly knocked out by Getafe after a 3–2 aggregate loss in the Round of 32 of the 2019–20 Europa League.

2020–21 season

Ajax began the 2020–21 season by winning their first three games, before a 1–0 defeat at Groningen, which proved to be one of the two league defeats that Ten Hag's team sustained over the course of the season. On 24 October 2020, Ten Hag led Ajax to a historic 13–0 victory over VVV-Venlo, breaking the Eredivisie record of the biggest recorded victory in the history of the competition. In the Europa League, the team lost 3–2 on aggregate to Roma in the quarter-finals. On 18 April 2021, Ten Hag guided Ajax to their record-extending 20th KNVB Cup with a 2–1 win over Vitesse in the final.[22] Two weeks later, Ten Hag extended his contract with Ajax through to the end of the 2022–23 season.[23]

2021–22 season

Ajax began their 2021–22 campaign with a 4–0 defeat in the Johan Cruyff Shield to PSV, before going unbeaten for the first seven league games before a 1–0 home defeat to Utrecht. This proved to be one of Ajax' three league defeats over the season, as Ajax won the title, with results including 5–0 home win over PSV on 24 October 2021. Ajax won all six of their group matches in the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League. On 16 January 2022, Ten Hag became the fastest manager in league history to reach 100 wins with Ajax, achieving the feat in 128 matches, when his side beat Utrecht 3–0 away on match day 19.[24]

Ajax were eventually knocked out by Benfica in the round of 16, while winning their third Eredivisie title in four years, after a 5–0 home victory over Heerenveen on 11 May 2022. Ten Hag's side also reached the 2022 KNVB Cup Final, which ultimately ended in a 2–1 defeat to PSV.

Manchester United

On 21 April 2022, Ten Hag was appointed as manager of Manchester United starting from the end of the 2021–22 season until June 2025, with the option of extending for a further year.[25] Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren were later revealed to be joining Ten Hag as part of his coaching staff.[26] On 16 May, it was confirmed that Ten Hag had left his Ajax role early to begin his preparations as Manchester United manager for the 2022–23 season.

2022–23 season

Ten Hag lost his first Premier League match, 2–1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on 7 August.[27] Following a 4–0 defeat away to Brentford on 13 August in his second Premier League match,[28] Ten Hag became the first Manchester United manager since John Chapman in 1921 to lose his first two games in charge.[29] On 22 August, Ten Hag won his first competitive game as Manchester United manager when his side recorded a 2–1 victory against arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. This was United's first league win against Liverpool since March 2018.[30] On 11 January 2023, Ten Hag led Manchester United to a 3–0 win over Charlton Athletic in the EFL Cup,[31] and in doing so became the fastest Manchester United manager to reach 20 competitive wins, achieving the feat in 27 games.[32] On 26 February, Ten Hag's side beat Newcastle United 2–0 to win the EFL Cup, claiming their first trophy since 2017.[33] However, in their first league game after lifting the trophy, Ten Hag's side lost a record 7–0 at Anfield, home of their rivals Liverpool. It was the heaviest defeat in the history of that fixture, as well as United's joint-heaviest defeat ever, and the first time they had conceded seven goals since 1931.[34]

In his first season at the club, Ten Hag also led Manchester United to a place in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League, by finishing third place in the top four of the Premier League, and also got to the 2023 FA Cup final, eventually losing to local rivals Manchester City, with a scoreline of 2–1.

2023–24 season

Manchester United began the 2023–24 season with a 1–0 win in the Premier League over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 14 August.[35] On 1 November, Manchester United exited the EFL Cup in the fourth round with a 3–0 loss at home to Newcastle United, who they beat in the final the season prior.[36] Ten Hag was awarded Premier League Manager of the Month for November.[37] On 12 December, Manchester United exited the Champions League after losing 1–0 to Bayern Munich, finishing bottom of their group with 4 points assuring no European football for the rest of the season.[38] Manchester United ended the Premier League season with a 2–0 win against Brighton to finish in eighth place with 60 points, their lowest position in the top flight since the 1989–90 season.[39] [40]

On 25 May 2024, Manchester United won the FA Cup final against Manchester City, earning Ten Hag a second major trophy with the club and securing a spot in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League.[41]

2024–25 season

On 4 July 2024, Manchester United triggered a one-year extension to Ten Hag's contract to keep him with the club until 2026.[42] Manchester United played Manchester City in 2024 FA Community Shield, losing 7–6 on penalties.[43]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Erik ten Hag: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 26 December 2023.
  2. News: Ten Hag confident of Manchester United revival without lavish budget . Jamie . Jackson . The Guardian . London . 21 April 2022 . 22 April 2022.
  3. Web site: E. Ten Hag: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 22 April 2022.
  4. Web site: Bate . Adam . Erik ten Hag to Manchester United: His coaching journey from Twente to Ajax via Go Ahead Eagles explained in detail . Sky Sports . 17 June 2023 . 21 April 2022.
  5. News: Overmars commissaris bij Go Ahead Eagles . nl . Overmars Commissioner at Go Ahead Eagles . Voetbal International . Amsterdam . 11 April 2005 . 7 March 2014.
  6. News: Warmbrunn . Benedikt . Unterrichter in kniffligen Fragen . 7 December 2013 . Süddeutsche Zeitung . 6 June 2013 . de.
  7. News: Heiko Vogel trainiert künftig die U23 des FC Bayern . 15 April 2015 . Süddeutsche Zeitung . 15 April 2015 . de.
  8. Web site: Bayern München II . Kicker . Olympia-Verlag. 11 June 2015 . de.
  9. News: Ten Hag wird Trainer und Sportdirektor beim FC Utrecht . 11 June 2015 . Kicker . Olympia-Verlag . 22 April 2015 . de.
  10. News: Feyenoord verovert KNVB-beker . 2 January 2024 . RTL Nieuws . 24 April 2016 . Dutch.
  11. News: Celebrations for Heracles, De Graafschap to fight relegation . 2 January 2024 . Dutch News . 23 May 2016.
  12. News: FC Utrecht na stunt tegen AZ in Europa League . 2 January 2024 . KNVB . 28 May 2017 . Dutch.
  13. News: Ajax appoint Utrecht boss Erik ten Hag as new head coach . 2 January 2024 . Sky Sports . 28 December 2017.
  14. News: Ajax sack Marcel Keizer and assistant Dennis Bergkamp after Cup exit . 2 January 2024 . The Guardian . 21 December 2017.
  15. News: Ten Hag debuteert bij Ajax met simpele zege in Klassieker . 2 January 2024 . NOS . 21 January 2018 . Dutch.
  16. Web site: Ajax close to perfection in Real Madrid thrashing, says Erik ten Hag . Sky Sports . 6 March 2019.
  17. Web site: De Ligt powers Ajax into semi-finals . 16 April 2019. 16 April 2019 . Sky Sports.
  18. News: Bushnell . Henry . 8 May 2019 . Tottenham stuns Ajax with last-second winner in Champions League semifinal . Yahoo! Sports . 8 May 2019.
  19. Web site: Ajax beat Willem II to take the KNVB Cup for first time since 2010 . 5 May 2019. 5 May 2019 . DutchNews.nl.
  20. Ajax Clinches Eredivisie Title, Dutch Domestic Double . 15 May 2019. 15 May 2019 . Sports Illustrated.
  21. News: Ajax extends contract of coach Erik ten Hag . 2 January 2024 . USA Today . 20 June 2019.
  22. Web site: Ajax strike late to down Vitesse and lift their 20th KNVB Cup . Football Oranje . 18 April 2021 . 30 April 2021.
  23. Web site: Ajax boss Ten Hag extends contract ending links with Tottenham . ESPN . 30 April 2021 . 30 April 2021.
  24. Web site: Geen enkele Eredivisie-trainer won ooit zo snel 100 keer met 1 club als Ten Hag met Ajax . 16 January 2022. 16 January 2022 . nl . sportnieuws.nl . DPG Media.
  25. News: Manchester United appoints Erik ten Hag as manager . Manchester United F.C. . 21 April 2022 . 21 April 2022.
  26. Web site: Backroom Staff Appointments Confirmed . Manchester United . 23 May 2022 . 23 May 2022.
  27. News: Ten Hag loses first Man Utd game as Brighton win . BBC Sport.
  28. News: Brentford hit four in first half to humiliate Man Utd . BBC Sport . 14 August 2022.
  29. Web site: Soccer-'Rock bottom': Former players tear into Man Utd after Brentford defeat . 14 August 2022 . Yahoo! News. 14 August 2022 .
  30. News: Manchester United 2–1 Liverpool . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 22 August 2022 . 22 August 2022.
  31. News: Man Utd 3–0 Charlton: Marcus Rashford double and Antony strike send hosts through to Carabao Cup semi-finals . Dan . Sansom . Sky Sports . 11 January 2023. 17 January 2023.
  32. News: Ten Hag becomes fastest United manager to 20 wins . Joe . Nelson . Manchester United F.C. . 11 January 2023. 17 January 2023.
  33. News: Manchester United 2–0 Newcastle United: Erik ten Hag's side win Carabao Cup for first trophy since 2017 . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 26 February 2023 . 26 February 2023.
  34. News: McNulty . Phil . Liverpool 7–0 Manchester United: Reds thrash old rivals in Anfield rout . BBC Sport . 9 March 2023.
  35. Web site: Man Utd 1–0 Wolves: Raphael Varane wins it as Erik ten Hag's side scrape to victory against Gary O'Neil's team.
  36. Web site: 'I am a fighter': Erik ten Hag defiant after Newcastle humble Manchester United. 2 November 2023. Guardian. 2 November 2023.
  37. Web site: Harry Maguire, Erik ten Hag win Premier League November awards after perfect month. TNT Sport.
  38. News: Man Utd 0–1 Bayern Munich: How United's worst-ever Champions League campaign unfolded . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 12 December 2023 . 4 July 2024.
  39. News: Full-time: Brighton 0–2 Man Utd . BBC Sport . 19 May 2024 . 4 July 2024.
  40. Web site: Premier League Table & Standings . Sky Sports . 4 July 2024.
  41. Web site: Manchester United win FA Cup after beating rivals Manchester City 2–1 in Wembley final. Sky News. 25 May 2024. 26 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240525195023/https://news.sky.com/story/manchester-united-win-fa-cup-after-beating-rivals-manchester-city-2-1-in-wembley-final-13142988. 25 May 2024. live.
  42. News: Man Utd trigger one-year extension to Ten Hag deal . BBC Sport . 4 July 2024 . 4 July 2024.
  43. News: Andrew . Gaudion . 7 August 2022 . Who has Erik ten Hag played and coached for? Getting to know the new Man United manager . Metro . 23 August 2022.
  44. Web site: Ten Hag . Voetbal International . https://web.archive.org/web/20090311053210/http://www.vi.nl/Spelers/Speler/ErikTenHag.htm . 11 March 2009.
  45. For 1989–90 UEFA Cup: Book: Ionescu, Romeo . The Complete Results & Line-ups of the UEFA Cup 1971–1991 . 2004 . Soccer Books . Cleethorpes . 978-1-86223-109-2 . 385.
  46. For 1993–94 UEFA Cup: Book: Ionescu, Romeo . The Complete Results & Line-ups of the UEFA Cup 1991–2004 . 2004 . Soccer Books . Cleethorpes . 978-1-86223-115-3 . 54.
  47. For 1997–98 UEFA Cup: Book: Ionescu . The Complete Results & Line-ups of the UEFA Cup 1991–2004 . 192, 197, 201.
  48. For 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup: Web site: Erik ten Hag: Club Matches: UI-Cup 1998/1999 . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 24 April 2022.
  49. For 2001–02 UEFA Cup: Book: Ionescu . The Complete Results & Line-ups of the UEFA Cup 1991–2004 . 356, 370.
    For 2001 Johan Cruyff Shield: Web site: Erik ten Hag: Club Matches: Supercup 2001 . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 24 April 2022.
  50. Web site: FC Utrecht . Kicker . Olympia-Verlag. 11 June 2015 . de.
  51. Web site: Erik ten Hag Profile & MUFC Managerial Record . 13 May 2023 . MUFCinfo.com.
  52. News: The making of Erik ten Hag: 'Only one coach could analyse games like him – and that was Fergie' . Sam . Wallace . The Daily Telegraph . London . 21 April 2022 . 23 April 2022 . subscription.
  53. Web site: Ten Hag vertrekt bij Bayern München . 15 April 2015 . NOS . 12 April 2022.
  54. Web site: Feyenoord vs. Utrecht 2–1: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 April 2024.
  55. Web site: Erik ten Hag manages last match for Ajax . Manchester United F.C. . 16 May 2022 . 17 May 2022.
  56. Web site: Willem II vs. Ajax 0–4: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 April 2024.
  57. Web site: Ajax vs. Vitesse 2–1: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 April 2024.
  58. Web site: PSV vs. Ajax 2–1: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 April 2024.
  59. Web site: Ajax vs. PSV 2–0: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 April 2024.
  60. News: Manchester City 1–2 Manchester United: Line-ups . BBC Sport . 25 May 2024 . 25 May 2024.
  61. News: Manchester City 2–1 Manchester United . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 3 June 2023 . 3 June 2023.
  62. Web site: Winnaars Rinus Michels Awards 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025172838/https://www.devoetbaltrainer.nl/2016/05/08/winnaars-rinus-michels-awards-2016/ . 25 October 2016 . 25 October 2016 . De Voetbal Trainer . nl.
  63. Web site: 17 May 2019 . Winnaars Rinus Michels Awards 2018/19 . 16 December 2022 . De VoetbalTrainer . nl.
  64. Web site: Ten Hag wins Rinus Michels Award . AFC Ajax . 10 August 2021. 14 April 2022.
  65. Web site: Manager Profile: Erik ten Hag . Premier League . 26 December 2023.
  66. Web site: life

    Playing statistics

    Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
    ClubSeasonLeagueKNVB Cup
    ]!colspan="2"|Europe!colspan="2"|Other!colspan="2"|Total|-!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals|-|Twente|1989–90[44] [45] |Eredivisie|14||0|| || ||0||0||colspan="2"|—||14||0|-|rowspan="3"|De Graafschap|1990–91|Eerste Divisie|37||5|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||5|-|1991–92|Eredivisie|17||1|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17||1|-!colspan="2"|Total!54||6|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||54||6|-|rowspan="3"|Twente|1992–93|Eredivisie|24||1|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||1|-|1993–94[46] |Eredivisie|21||1|| || ||1||0||colspan="2"|—||22||1|-!colspan="2"|Total!45||2|| || ||1||0||colspan="2"|—||46||2|-|RKC Waalwijk|1994–95|Eredivisie|31||2|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||2|-|Utrecht|1995–96|Eredivisie|30||2|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||2|-|rowspan="7"|Twente|1996–97|Eredivisie|26||1|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||1|-|1997–98[47] |Eredivisie|33||0|| || ||5||0||colspan="2"|—||38||0|-|1998–99[48] |Eredivisie|29||0|| || ||4||0||colspan="2"|—||33||0|-|1999–2000|Eredivisie|30||2|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||2|-|2000–01|Eredivisie|28||0|| || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||0|-|2001–02[49] |Eredivisie|16||0|| || ||2||0||1||0||19||0|-!colspan="2"|Total!162||3|| || ||11||0||1||0||174||3|-!colspan="3"|Career total!336||15|| || ||12||0||1||0||349||15|}

    Managerial statistics

    Managerial record by team and tenure
    TeamFromToRecord
    1 July 20126 June 2013
    Bayern Munich II6 June 201322 May 2015
    Utrecht23 May 2015[50] 27 December 2017
    Ajax28 December 201715 May 2022
    Manchester United[51] 23 May 2022Present
    Total

    Honours

    Player

    De Graafschap

    1990–91[52]

    Twente

    2000–01

    Manager

    Bayern Munich II

    2013–14[53]

    Utrecht

    Ajax

    2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22[55]

    2019[59]

    Manchester United

    2023–24;[60] runner-up: 2022–23[61]

    2022–23

    Individual

    2015–16,[62] 2018–19,[63] 2020–21[64]

    September 2022, February 2023, November 2023[65]

    External links

    ]

    .