The Future of Erik ten Hag: Prospects and Potential Moves

omidbasir- Since his dismissal from Bayer Leverkusen in early September, Erik ten Hag has been without a club. The 55-year-old coach is viewed by Ajax as the ideal candidate to succeed the recently ousted John Heitinga. However, he recently declined this position. SoccerNews examines Ten Hag’s profile and outlines potential new ventures. Could we see the Tukkerman returning to PSV, where he previously served as assistant coach, or will he opt for a new international adventure?

**Analysis: Erik ten Hag and His Immediate Future in Football**

Born on February 2, 1970, in Haaksbergen, Erik ten Hag began his football career as a player at the local club SV Bon Boys. He played in their youth ranks from the age of seven until fifteen. In 1985, he was recruited by FC Twente, where he completed his youth training. He made his professional debut on December 13, 1989. The following summer, he transferred to De Graafschap, and after two seasons, he returned to FC Twente for another two years.

**Initial Steps as Head Coach**

After leaving PSV, Ten Hag embarked on his first head coaching role with Go Ahead Eagles, a club that had been competing in the Eerste Divisie for several years. He achieved immediate success as head coach, leading the Deventenaren to promotion to the Eredivisie. His impressive performance attracted the attention of Bayern Munich, where he took charge of the second team and had the opportunity to observe the first team’s training sessions during the successful reign of Pep Guardiola in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons.

**Successes at Ajax**

Although his start in Amsterdam was anything but promising, Ten Hag managed to turn things around in the 2018-2019 season. After PSV had crowned themselves champions the previous season, Ajax sought revenge. Under Ten Hag’s leadership, the team not only secured the Dutch championship but also won the KNVB Cup. Additionally, Ajax made a significant impact in the Champions League, achieving victories over Real Madrid and Juventus, and reaching the semi-finals for the first time in years.

**International Endeavors**

His time in Manchester also began with challenges, but he proved himself by defeating arch-rival Liverpool. Under Ten Hag’s guidance, Manchester United won a trophy for the first time in nearly six years, clinching the League Cup final against Newcastle United 2-0, just days after eliminating FC Barcelona from the Europa League. He also led United to a third-place finish in the Premier League and a spot in the FA Cup final, although they lost to Manchester City.

**The Future of Erik ten Hag**

As mentioned earlier, Ajax has attempted to lure Ten Hag back to Amsterdam as the successor to Heitinga. However, the 55-year-old coach is currently uninterested. Timing is not favorable for him, and he lacks trust in the current personnel at the club. Although he maintains a good relationship with technical director Alex Kroes, Kroes has indicated that he is willing to step down from his position.