Krishnan Sreekumar
Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt backs Manchester United managerial target Erik ten Hag to do a ‘great job’ at a top side
Speaking to Goal (h/t Daily Mail), ex-Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt backed Ajax Amsterdam boss Erik ten Hag to have a successful career at a top side in Europe, amidst links to become the next permanent manager of Manchester United.
United are expected to bring in a new manager at Old Trafford next season when Ralf Rangnick completes his tenure as interim boss in the summer. The Ajax boss is one of the leading candidates to be offered the job ahead of the new campaign, and Kuyt was full of praise for him.
Kuyt, who won a League Cup with Liverpool, said that ten Hag was a great coach who has tons of experience with European clubs and has improved himself so much on and off the pitch.
“Ten Hag is a great, experienced coach. He’s done his apprenticeship, if you like, with Bayern Munich’s second team, then Utrecht and now at Ajax. He is a great manager who has improved himself so much, on and off the pitch.”
The 52-year-old head coach is currently busy leading Ajax to a third consecutive league title, with the Dutch giants sitting on top of the Eredivisie table. Aside from league triumphs, the Dutchman has also won two KNVB Cups in Holland with the Amsterdam side.
“Opportunity at a top side”
ten Hag has caught the attention of several sides for the impressive work he has done at Ajax, with United already interviewing him earlier this month. However, it is said that the manager has spoken to two other European clubs that play regularly in the Champions League while having a firm offer from one club that interests him.
Kuyt said that you could see ten Hag growing every week as a manager and believed that he could do a great job at any top side in Europe because his tactics and way of thinking about football is very interesting.
“I know some people were doubting his level of speaking English, his performance in front of the camera, but you see him growing every week as a manager, and I think he can do a great job at any top side in Europe. His tactics, his way of thinking about football, is very interesting, and it would be great if he was to get an opportunity at a top side.”
It is plain to see why there is so much hype and demand for ten Hag, given his rich trophy history in Holland and his reputation for playing progressive football. Apart from domestic success, the Dutchman also oversaw the incredible Champions League semi-final run that his side had in 2019.
The team that ten Hag managed had the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Hakim Ziyech, and Donny van de Beek in the squad, with all these stars having since departed for bigger clubs in Europe. van de Beek, in fact, made the move to United last season after impressing at Ajax.
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Given Kuyt’s high praise about him, perhaps ten Hag should take a leaf out of his former players’ notebooks and move to a bigger club in Europe himself. He has apparently gotten offers from other clubs, but at United, he stands to potentially make history by being successful at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
The task is not easy, and there is nothing confirmed between the Ajax boss and the Red Devils, but if the head coach wants to take the next big step in his career, then Old Trafford poses a very attractive option for him. If so, he could reunite with former player van de Beek, who is currently on loan at Everton until the summer, and recreate the same magic they performed while in Holland.
