Pranav Nair
Manchester United on alert as Erik ten Hag appears set to call it quits at Ajax Amsterdam
In a massive boost to Manchester United, speaking on the Telesport Podcast, Dutch journalist Mike Verweij (h/t The Express) has revealed that Erik ten Hag is unlikely to continue in the Ajax Amsterdam hot seat beyond next summer.
The Dutchman has built himself a solid reputation during his stint with the Eredivisie giants, leading them to numerous trophies. He is one of the in-demand managers in the game today and is seen as a potential choice to take over as the permanent manager at Old Trafford in the summer.
At 52, ten Hag is old enough to be experienced but also young enough to put together a team with a long-term vision. Coupled with an attractive playing style, he ticks several boxes for a modern manager and is someone who can turn around Man United’s fortunes.
The latest developments regarding the Dutchman comes after Marc Overmars called it quits at Ajax for sending inappropriate messages to female employees at the club. This has thrown ten Hag’s future at the club in doubt and Verweij believes he won’t be in charge come next season.
Verweij goes on to admit that ten Hag and Overmars are ‘one unit’ and that the former could follow the player out the exit door. The 52-year-old is one of three contenders leading the race for the Man United job.
Mauricio Pochettino and Ralf Rangnick are also in the fray and it remains to be seen who the club ultimately decides to go with. The PSG boss has, if anything, struggled to impress in France while Rangnick is not without his own issues at Old Trafford. At least on paper, ten Hag appears to be the obvious choice.
While the Dutchman could potentially turn our fortunes around, it remains to be seen if he will truly leave Ajax come the summer. Given that Overmars’s actions were reprehensible, it does not show ten Hag in good light if his decision to quit is brought about thanks to his former colleague’s exit.
Man United are already facing the brunt of criticism for the alleged unscrupulous actions of Mason Greenwood and it remains to be seen how the club’s hierarchy will respond to ten Hag’s decision. We clearly cannot afford to get on the morally wrong side here, after all some things are more important than football and as the face of the club, any potential candidate must be properly vetted.
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Speaking in terms of just managerial ability, ten Hag should be the go-to man for Man United next summer. He has shown not just the tactical acumen expected of a top-level manager but also the ability to constantly keep building a squad- two traits that the Red Devils so desperately need.
