What to expect from Erik ten Hag at United
Erik ten Hag was named as Manchester United’s new manager in April. With the Dutchman officially taking charge at the end of the season. The 52-year-old is regarded as one of the most progressive coaches in Europe. He guided Ajax to five trophies in the last four seasons whilst playing an attractive, attacking brand of football. Fantasy Football Scout’s Tom Freeman assesses what we should expect Erik ten Hag at United.
Ten Hag has appointed his own staff with Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren named as his assistants. United fans will now be hoping ten Hag can bring success to Old Trafford. But what does his appointment mean for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers? Can he reinvigorate Bruno Fernandes and co as FPL assets?
The History
Playing career
Ten Hag’s decent but modest playing career came to an end in 2002, having spent his whole career in the Netherlands playing as a centre-half for FC Twente, De Graafschap, RKC Waalwijk and FC Utrecht.
FC Twente
After hanging up his boots, he went straight into coaching, working his way through the youth systems before becoming Steve McClaren’s assistant at Twente. The Dutchman only worked with the former England manager for one season, when they finished as runners-up, but clearly left a lasting impression.
We were starting pre-season training the day after I was appointed. He brought out this folder, and there were six weeks’ worth of pre-season training planned in there. Every minute of every day was laid out, from drinks sessions to warming down, to individual work. It was so detailed. I’d not seen anything like it before, and I’ve not seen anything like it since.
He would prepare meticulous game plans about the opposition. How we were going to press, how we were going to build up. I thought I knew football before, but going there and experiencing that… I knew nothing about football. He could see things in the game that nobody else could see, myself included. I have to sit up in the stands to see the patterns of a game, but he could stand on the touchline (and see them).
He always knew the answer to everything, how to change shape, change positions. His adjustments in the games — obviously I had worked with Sir Alex (Ferguson), and I used to think that some of his subs and changes were strange, but they always worked. Erik is the same in that respect.
Steve McClaren
Go Ahead Eagles and Bayern Munich II
His first managerial job followed at Dutch second-tier outfit Go Ahead Eagles in 2012, where he guided the club to its first promotion in 17 years, before taking charge of Bayern Munich II, the German giants’ reserve team. There, he would learn from Pep Guardiola, who had just taken over the first team.
During my time at Bayern Munich, among other things, I saw how things work (at a big club). Every detail can be picked out for analysis. The media, people in general, always find something if you look for it. A hundred things can go right, if one thing goes wrong, people highlight it. That’s the football world.
Erik ten Hag
Utrecht and Ajax
After two years in Bavaria, he returned to the Netherlands in 2015 as Utrecht manager, taking them to fifth spot in his first season and then fourth position in the second, leading to Europa League qualification.
His success at Utrecht saw him become Ajax manager in December 2017 following the dismissal of Marcel Keizer, a decision that was spectacularly validated in the year that followed, as he guided the Dutch giants to the Champions League semi-final in 2018/19. His troops beat defending champions Real Madrid at the last-16 stage and ousted Juventus in the quarter-finals before falling to Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur in the last four. During his time at Ajax, ten Hag also led the Amsterdam club to three Dutch titles and two Dutch cups.
Management style
Ten Hag is a perfectionist, who will not be afraid to confront underperforming players if his high standards aren’t met.
I will not change my view on coaching. The material always determines how you play, but I set the requirements that come with it and the standards. I tell who has what task and those who don’t meet it, will be told that, regardless of who it is. I make no concessions in that regard.
Erik ten Hag
However, in an attempt to protect his players, such conversations will happen behind closed doors.
I definitely protect people outwardly. Internally, it can be different if someone has crossed a line. Ultimately, it is top sport. You have to be able to trust each other, otherwise you can’t get results. If my protective attitude comes at the expense of myself, so be it. I am the manager, the leader, I do that in the interest of getting results.
Erik ten Hag
He also believes he is ready for the intense media scrutiny at Old Trafford.
You don’t have to read everything. And you know that in my profession you get criticised. You have to deal with that. Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong.
Erik ten Hag
The media
You get the feeling that his handling of the press will be key, too, something Athletic journalist Carl Anka touched on recently.
Ten Hag has been known to dismiss questions he feels are irrelevant during interviews and press conferences. That has gone down well(ish) in straight-talking Dutch media and football circles, but he may find it odd how often he is asked about United’s glorious past and how quickly he expects to restore the club to their “rightful” place. His answers on questions like these will be important. Especially if he’s asked them just before an international break.
Carl Anka, The Athletic
