A message on my telephone buzzes. “I decide you up on the station.” It’s Erik ten Hag providing a carry in his automobile as soon as my practice from Amsterdam arrives in Enschede, within the east of the Netherlands. It’s delayed, however he would not appear to thoughts.
Quickly after, he pulls up in a silver Vary Rover and will get out to trade a handshake. He has completed a day’s work at FC Twente’s stadium, De Grolsch Veste, the place he’s technical director.
A short time later, he’s driving us by way of picturesque Dutch countryside on the best way to Ros van Twente, the lodge he co-owns along with his brothers, Michel and Rico, and John Berghaan and Anita Stappenbeld, who run it. “They received married two weeks in the past as a shock,” says Ten Hag, grinning.
Two years on from the top of his time in command of Manchester United, Ten Hag is in a relaxed temper. As we weave by way of the flat fields, he supplies a historical past of the place. “The Germans had been right here within the Second World Battle, but in addition the English and Individuals afterwards – they lived right here on the bottom of the navy airport,” he says.
Heaven is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle comes out of the audio system as his automobile stereo goes by way of a Eighties playlist. “On this interval it was actual music; now every thing is laptop,” he provides.
He strikes on to a devastating occasion within the 12 months 2000 that affected him whereas enjoying for FC Twente. A fireworks depot that provided pop concert events exploded, killing 23 individuals, together with 4 firefighters, injuring 950, and destroying 400 properties. Ten Hag says it was fortunate the blast did not hit the propane drums on the Grolsch brewing manufacturing unit on the outskirts of city; in any other case, the injury would have been much more extreme.
Twente’s coaching floor was shut by and gamers’ households and associates had been damage, however the membership ordered the squad to finish their closing match of the season the following day, a visit to Feyenoord. Afterwards, Ten Hag gave an interview to broadcast media and criticised the executives.
“The management of the membership had been mad at me, however they’d made the choice to play,” explains Ten Hag. “Everyone seems to be agreeing now: you’ll be able to’t play soccer when your metropolis is burning.”
Ten Hag talking his thoughts is a theme that comes up repeatedly as we speak in a personal eating room on the lodge. He opens up like by no means earlier than on many key facets of his time in command of Manchester United and his profession since, together with:
- Using knowledge at United and his supply to INEOS
- Why a 2-2 draw with Sevilla in April 2023 was a turning level in his reign
- How that summer season’s pre-season ‘killed’ gamers
- Including dynamism to Kobbie Mainoo’s recreation
- The rationale of selecting Noussair Mazraoui at No 10 in Istanbul
- How gamers are affected by United legends who are actually pundits
His ‘unusual’ three-game spell at Bayer Leverkusen
In January 2023, Ten Hag wanted a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo at centre-forward. He used his Dutch connections to mortgage Wout Weghorst from Burnley, and to at the present time feels the striker’s work off the ball was a contributing think about Marcus Rashford hitting 30 objectives that season.
“Wout did nicely for us; what he took out of his profession is wonderful,” says Ten Hag. “Like Marcel Sabitzer. We received success, profitable the League Cup, third place; we had been a group as a result of they labored exhausting. Wout was one of many causes Rashford was so vital.”
Weghorst, standing at 6ft 6in (198cm), made an sudden look as a No 10 within the Camp Nou, the place Rashford went up high and scored in a 2-2 draw in opposition to Barcelona. United got here from behind to win 2-1 within the house leg, a last-32 tie within the Europa League, one of many nice latest European nights at Previous Trafford.
Weghorst then began up high within the Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United at Wembley, sliding a go by way of to Rashford, who completed to make the rating 2-0.
Marcus Rashford was significantly productive throughout Wout Weghorst’s time at Previous Trafford
Every week later, United received thumped 7-0 at Anfield.
“The group was not constant,” says Ten Hag. “On our good day we might match one of the best groups within the league, on the planet, I’d even say. On the worst day, we sat under the underside. After which in Liverpool, clearly, we went under the underside, additionally mentality-wise. It was the following Premier League recreation after we gained the League Cup. We had been on the excessive; we went up there, possibly we had been too assured, and we received punished. Each assault was a objective.”
However the recreation through which Ten Hag feels his reign modified was the quarter-final of the Europa League a month later, when United had been knocked out 5-2 on combination by Sevilla, having been 2-0 up within the first leg. “The group could not play with out two gamers,” he says, naming Lisandro Martinez (Licha) and Bruno Fernandes.
“Licha was so vital for us to play from the again, but in addition the profitable mentality, profitable duels. And Bruno. In that recreation (first leg), at 2-0 up, I made a decision to sub Bruno, half-hour from time, after which Lisandro broke his foot.”
United completed the season with 27 house wins, equalling a membership file throughout a marketing campaign, however they’d have damaged it had they held on at Previous Trafford in opposition to Sevilla.
Ten Hag had proven his religion in Fernandes by naming him captain. “I believe it was good for the group, one of the best answer, and for him it was good as nicely. Clearly he has some execs and cons, however he has nice recreation understanding, he is a high skilled, and he at all times provides his greatest; life-style good. On daily basis, he goes to the restrict; he is driving it.”
Ten Hag laughs. “Generally he is getting emotional, however he is a winner.”
Ten Hag allowed Fernandes tactical latitude on the pitch. “I gave him some freedom within the recreation plan. I believe I am at all times fairly self-critical and reflective. I’ve to say I can not see a recreation the place the gamers did not wish to switch the sport plan onto the pitch. They had been at all times attempting as a result of I believe they believed in what we did.”
Ten Hag made Bruno Fernandes Manchester United captain
Pre-season earlier than the 2023-24 season, throughout which United flew to New Jersey, San Diego, Houston and Las Vegas, pointed at points forward. Flying 13,650 miles throughout the Atlantic, from metropolis to metropolis, impacted the gamers, Ten Hag reveals.
“The tour was a lot expectation on the gamers,” he says. “We received exhausted from all of the kilometres. We began in New York, we performed in Houston, we performed in Vegas, went again, we gave them a few days off, after which we did not practice correct tactical and bodily work for 10 days as a result of they had been completely killed… We had been by no means match.”
Kobbie Mainoo, then 18, suffered an ankle damage in opposition to Actual Madrid in Texas. When he lastly made his first Premier League begin, at Everton, he was named man of the match in a 3-0 win.
Ten Hag knew he had struck gold from the academy when he was first drawn to Mainoo in July 2022. “The primary time I noticed him, enjoying for the second group, I believed, ‘OK, he is a tremendous expertise’. However he was too simple. I noticed that we wanted him to get in the next depth. We began to carry him in drills the place we challenged him on dynamics.”
Mainoo has not too long ago praised the classes placed on by Ten Hag and his assistant, Mitchell van der Gaag. He advised Clarence Seedorf on Amazon Prime how coaching was “powerful” however amongst “one of the best” of his profession, including: “The depth and competitiveness of these classes actually helped me in that point.”
Ten Hag laughs. He will get despatched all of the quotes from gamers criticising his regime, however that is one which hasn’t been handed on to him. “Kobbie is, for me, particular. Lots of people had been constructing him, supporting him. However in the long run, he is doing it by himself.”
United’s accidents continued that season, although, and outcomes suffered. Ten Hag picked 13 totally different centre-back combos and adjusted his again 4 29 occasions. “So it is virtually unattainable to get automatism in,” he says. “However I do know on the high, it is in regards to the outcome.”
Ten Hag provides: “Expectations at United are so enormous, everyone seems to be anticipating the group to win the league yearly. However be honest, United at the moment, and likewise positively two years after, should not in a position to win the league.
“We might have gained the title if we had continued on constructing. However in that point we weren’t constant sufficient; the squad was not adequate to win it.”
‘Sancho did not wish to play on the appropriate’
In October 2024, United’s executives determined Ten Hag was not the person to make them a title problem. The writing appeared on the wall after his job was so publicly in danger across the FA Cup closing conquer Manchester Metropolis 5 months earlier. However he insists his maverick alternative to begin Mazraoui at No 10 at Fenerbahce in his penultimate recreation was not a final roll of the cube, however slightly a range Jose Mourinho wouldn’t predict.
“Not every thing comes out in Carrington,” says Ten Hag, chuckling about information leaking from United’s coaching floor. “That is me; I shocked them additionally within the FA Cup closing, and infrequently I received it proper. That is not a threat to place Mazraoui there… However typically I’ve to go extra within the head of a fan or media, to suppose that they suppose it is bizarre. For me, it was logic.”
Ten Hag began loanee Sofyan Amrabat within the FA Cup closing in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, as a substitute of Casemiro, to get extra protection in midfield. United then purchased Manuel Ugarte that summer season however Ten Hag thinks he might have as a substitute saved Scott McTominay and saved cash on Amrabat. He says: “I wished to maintain Sofyan Amrabat, they did not. I believe he did an incredible job at United.”
Ten Hag was scrutinised by pundits for his name in Istanbul, and for a lot else in his tenure, however he has a sanguine response to a query in regards to the impression on United of the host of former gamers giving their views as pundits. Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt all commonly go remark, often sharply, on their YouTube reveals in addition to extra mainstream channels.
“It is in all places the identical; they at all times wish to shield their legacies,” says Ten Hag. “It is no totally different than Bayern Munich or Ajax; they do the identical. However they’re (a part of United’s) historical past, and they don’t at all times know what is going on on. Soccer evolves. For United, it is clear: they’d nice contributions, they achieved large outcomes, trophies for the membership and for themselves, so I respect them.
“I’ve to say, I had an excellent relationship with all of them, with Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand. I did good interviews with them each, so it did not damage me. After all, they’ve podcasts, they’ve their fashions. Generally it is tough for gamers. A few of them get affected by it, get irritated by it.
“They achieved large successes. But additionally, they may help the membership extra, assist the gamers extra. There ought to be two ways in which they help it. However I believe at all times the factor you most love, you most criticise.”
Maybe that’s the reason Ten Hag was so strong along with his United gamers, even these he signed. Antony was the €100million (£84m, $112m) winger considered as the most important persist with which to beat Ten Hag. A participant who he coached at Ajax arrived for one of many largest sums United have paid for a participant, however delivered little or no and had off-field points. Ten Hag charges Antony as a participant, however he twice tore into him after video games over his positioning.
Antony’s value affected perceptions. In his first summer season, Ten Hag discovered himself needing a right-winger late within the window because of Jadon Sancho’s sudden stance. “There got here up an issue as a result of Sancho did not wish to play on the appropriate aspect; he mentioned that,” says Ten Hag. “Which was very bizarre; he performed usually on the appropriate. He mentioned he felt extra comfy on the left. So there we had a difficulty, and we had been late.”
Antony, additionally advisable by the scouting division, was purchased because the right-winger on deadline day, with Ajax benefiting from United’s circumstances to extract a charge nicely above market fee.
Ten Hag denies a participant’s background influenced his picks. “I see on performances and profiles what is required for the sport,” he says. “Not on emotion, if I like a participant or dislike a participant, or if I skilled him earlier than, or if I purchased him or the membership purchased him, no, I will be appearing very skilled, I’d say.”
His method has been known as brusque, however away from the depth of that job, he’s personable and considerate. He’s heat with John and Anita, who serve us a steak dinner.
Ten Hag’s spell at Bayer Leverkusen was chilly, even for the loopy world of soccer. He was sacked after three video games in cost, having taken over from Xabi Alonso, who gained the Bundesliga then went to Actual Madrid.
“It is a very unusual story,” he says. “They ended an period with Alonso, so all of the gamers wished to go. We fought for some and so they weren’t dedicated anymore. So it was ready till September 1. The great gamers signed within the final couple of days. I by no means labored with them. Three video games after which we parted methods.”
Speak of Leverkusen leads Ten Hag to carry up Garnacho. “I remorse the place he’s now,” he says. “I advised him, ‘Come to Leverkusen’. However fortunately he did not. He wished to remain in England. I perceive, one of the best league, so he denied.”
Ten Hag helped develop Garnacho right into a Premier League participant. His transfer to Chelsea hasn’t labored out and now he’s on mortgage at Aston Villa.
Ten Hag tried to signal Alejandro Garnacho for Bayer Leverkusen
“He is a personality, it’s important to handle him, however I had a powerful reference to him,” says Ten Hag. “Nevertheless it’s additionally as much as him, in fact, however he wants a coach, a specific coach, who will give him belief, who will give him love. He wants the love, positively. However he is a tremendous participant. What’s so particular about him is he can run all day, excessive quantity at actually excessive pace, all recreation, again and ahead.
“Generally his head just isn’t on defending. So mentally, his mindset, it’s important to ensure that he’s targeted and disciplined and does the job each transition, however he is able to doing it and attacking-wise he can go ahead and do unimaginable issues, making dribbles, ending. He can do the ultimate go, however typically he is a little bit bit egocentric.”
Ten Hag laughs. “However yeah, you steadiness this.”
Ten Hag pulls out his laptop computer to point out FC Twente’s plans and knowledge evaluation. There’s a picture that depicts the group as a ship going downstream, passing by landmarks they should hit. He additionally has pages of detailed statistical evaluation, which he makes use of for recruitment.
“Seven factors the place I decide the participant,” he explains. “Technical capability, for me, is most vital. Second is recreation intelligence and cognition. Third, you want athleticism, then life-style. Willpower. Resilience and robustness to play each third day. After which we wish to be at all times offensive.
“As an example, once I got here to United, we did not have the scoring capability to be within the high 4. I can’t say soccer is arithmetic, however a little bit of logic is in it. For us at Twente, we’d like 70 objectives if you wish to be in fourth place. If you wish to win the Premier League, you want 85, 90 objectives.
“I exploit this day-after-day, so it shouldn’t be a doc in a drawer. That’s profitable tradition, if we match what we described. We use numerous knowledge to see new signings match our fashion of play.”
‘Knowledge modified the entire world’
Ten Hag continues: “Knowledge modified the entire world, and now it is coming, AI, and each organisation has to take this on board. I believe United miss some facets. The second I got here in, they had been beginning. As an example, knowledge was already a very long time on board at Ajax.”
Dominic Jordan was employed as United’s first head of knowledge in 2022. He has left, changed by Michael Sansoni, an appointment by Sir Jim Ratcliffe after his firm, INEOS, grew to become minority house owners of the membership in December 2023.
“A supervisor ought to get, by the top, all the knowledge,” says Ten Hag. “You want others in a membership to gather all the knowledge and make every thing able to make closing selections. Prime organisations innovate frequently and so they’re really driving the improvements.
“I provided my information and skills to INEOS to assist them to assemble, however they had been of the opinion that they knew already every thing. They had been satisfied of, say, the philosophy, the technique, the work strategies. However they got here from petrochemicals, from Components 1, from biking. Prime soccer calls for one thing completely totally different.”
The following night time, Ten Hag is in his ingredient at FC Twente’s Convention League tie in opposition to FC Thun, the Swiss champions. Ruud Nijstad – an 18-year-old left-sided centre-half already attracting curiosity from Europe’s huge golf equipment, together with United – helps Twente preserve a clear sheet on the best way to a deserved 1-0 victory.
The environment on the 30,000-capacity stadium is loud, and Ten Hag goes pitchside to conduct a tv interview alongside former Ajax, FC Twente and Netherlands midfielder Ronald de Boer and Youri Mulder, technical director of Schalke 04. He believes it’s helpful for the suitable executives to talk on the proper occasions, so followers don’t solely hear from the top coach.
“I agree you want multiple voice,” he says later. “Choices and recreation plan, positively the supervisor, the top coach. Tradition, then it is in all probability extra the technical director. Monetary points, then the CEO has to step ahead.”
Portraits of a whole bunch of Twente gamers line the corridors by the dressing room. Ten Hag factors out one who’s fondly remembered at each Twente and United. “He made the help for Marco van Basten within the 1988 Euro closing,” he says, pointing to Arnold Muhren, who gained the 1983 FA Cup with United. Ten Hag’s personal picture can be on the wall.
Afterwards, he drives me to my lodge, and we talk about his work as a UEFA technical analyst. He’s overlaying Paris Saint-Germain versus Barcelona from house as a result of Twente journey to Gibraltar for his or her subsequent Convention League recreation at Lincoln Purple Imps, two days later.
Now 56, his love of soccer is undimmed.
This text initially appeared in The Athletic.
© 2026 The Athletic Media Firm