Football News Update: Erik ten Hag’s Focus on Trusted Talents from Ajax and the Netherlands
In the world of football, the tale of managers bringing in players they have previously worked with is a well-known phenomenon. However, Erik ten Hag has taken this approach to a new level since joining Manchester United.
The Dutch tactician has a clear preference for players he has coached at his former club, Ajax, where he enjoyed great success. This trend continued in his first summer transfer window at Old Trafford, with the arrivals of Lisandro Martinez and Antony, both of whom had played under Ten Hag in Amsterdam.
Additionally, the club made a concerted effort to sign Frenkie de Jong, another standout from Ten Hag’s time at Ajax. While that pursuit ultimately proved unsuccessful, the signings of Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen, both with Eredivisie experience, further highlighted the manager’s inclination towards players with a Dutch connection.
“The signings of former Ajax players and staff underscores Ten Hag’s desire to surround himself with familiar faces and trusted personnel.”
The January transfer window saw the arrival of Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst on loan, continuing the pattern. And in the following summer, the acquisitions of former Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana and Mason Mount, who had faced Ten Hag’s side during a loan spell at Vitesse, cemented the manager’s penchant for recruiting players with a Dutch flavour.
Now, in his third summer transfer window at Manchester United, Ten Hag’s focus on trusted talents has only intensified. The signings of Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee and the high-profile acquisitions of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, both of whom had previously worked with the Dutch manager at Ajax, have further solidified this trend.
Furthermore, the addition of Dutch coaches Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake to Ten Hag’s coaching staff this summer underscores his desire to surround himself with familiar faces and trusted personnel as he approaches his third season in charge at Old Trafford.
As Manchester United desperately seeks a return to the Champions League, Ten Hag’s reliance on players and staff he knows and trusts could be the key to unlocking the team’s full potential. With no more excuses, the pressure is on for the Dutchman to deliver success at the highest level.
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