If Erik ten Hag does not survive at Manchester United, there is one club paying close attention.
Manchester United had a morale-boosting if not entirely convincing win over Sheffield United. But a 4-2 triumph over the team sitting bottom of the Premier League table is not likely to have much of a bearing on Ineos‘ decision, with the Red Devils chiefs looking instead at the bigger picture.
If United do opt to move on from a man who delivered their first trophy in six years in his first season but has struggled to maintain those standards in his second, there may be one club in particular willing to welcome Erik ten Hag with open arms.
Ajax eyeing Erik ten Hag
“If Ajax follows (chief executive) Alex) Kroes’ line, then Ajax will wait for Ten Hag,” Valentijn Driessen, the experienced Dutch reporter, told De Telegraaf’s Kick Off podcast this week.
Of course, things weren’t quite that simple. Kroes, hired to be Ajax’s new CEO in mid-March, had been suspended by the Eredivisie giants on suspicion of insider trading (ESPN).
If Ten Hag’s potential Amsterdam return was tied to the future of Kroes, then Ajax’s eventual decision over the former AZ Alkmaar chief was always likely to be a pretty important chapter in a story which could see the Man United boss return to the club where he really made his name.
“Would Kroes know whether Ten Hag would want to return to Ajax after Manchester United? Off the record, he has said a number of times that he would like to wait for Ten Hag,” Driessen muses. “You don’t say that if you know he will say ‘no’ anyway.”
“(Ajax chiefs) Marijn Beuker, Kelvin de Lang and Michael Van Praag have said out loud that they will continue to work along the lines of Kroes (while he is suspended). But perhaps the question for Ten Hag is whether he will step in if Kroes does not remain general manager.”
Kroes stays at Ajax
On Thursday, we finally got our answer to that question, at least, even if Ten Hag’s future remains shrouded in mystery. According to The Athletic, Kroes has been re-instated, albeit in a new role of technical director.
Presuming he still has a major say over who will lead Ajax from next season onwards, when John van’t Schip’s short-term contract comes to an end, it’s probably safe to say Ten Hag might not be out of work for long should he be denied the chance to see out the final year of his three-year contract at Old Trafford.
Man United, by our count, have been linked with sixteen potential replacements, including a man who has clearly got Pep Guardiola’s seal of approval.
“My admiration for him is growing every season,” Guardiola tells Sky Sports of Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi. “They had a lot of problems and important players like (Levi) Colwill, (Moises) Caicedo, (Alexis) Mac Allister were sold.
“They have a lot of injuries and have played in three competitions, but the way they play is always there. He is doing an incredible job at Brighton.”
“He’s brave,” the Man City boss adds. “It doesn’t matter which opponent, (De Zerbi) wants to impose his game, the process in build-up with the keeper, defenders, holding midfielders. They are exceptional.
“He’s a perfect person in world football. His teams are so attractive. In Italy, Ukraine (with Shakhtar Donetsk), now here. I’m a spectator always, always I like to watch.”
