Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag linked with national team managerial role: Reports
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has reportedly emerged as a strong candidate to replace Ronald Koeman as Netherlands coach. The Oranje head coach finds himself under mounting pressure.
This comes following a poor run of results in the UEFA Nations League, with calls growing for a change at the helm. They won two, drew three, and lost one of their six group games. They are set to face Spain in a two-legged quarter-final.
These performances prompted leading prominent Dutch football analysts to question his future. De Telegraaf’s podcast, Valentijn Driessen, the head of football at the outlet, did not hold back, saying (via Tribal Football):
"With two defeats against Spain: why would you want to continue with the national coach?"
Another analyst, Mike Verweij, echoed Driessen’s sentiments, criticizing the lack of progress under Koeman’s tenure, adding:
“The Dutch national team is not getting better under Koeman. You have to think about a coach who can make that happen."
Verweij suggested that the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign could be pivotal for the Oranje.
Amid this turmoil, Erik ten Hag has emerged as a potential successor. Verweij described the former Ajax boss as "the best available" option. However, he also raised questions about Ten Hag’s suitability for the unique demands of international management. He said:
"Ten Hag seems to me more of a field coach or club coach than a national coach."
Verweij referred to the differences between daily club-level coaching and the more strategic, less hands-on approach required for managing a national team.
How did Erik ten Hag perform as Manchester United's manager?
Erik ten Hag’s managerial stats at Manchester United highlight a mixed tenure before his dismissal. During his time in charge, he managed 85 matches across all competitions, achieving 44 wins, 14 draws, and 27 losses.
Manchester United scored 123 goals and conceded 112, resulting in a win rate of approximately 52% and an average of 1.72 points per game.
Despite securing the FA Cup in his final season and the Carabao Cup in the 2022-23 season, his final campaign began with just four wins in 13 games. He was sacked on October 28.
Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge in an interim capacity before he, too, left the club after Ruben Amorim was appointed. The former Sporting CP manager's first game in charge of the club would be United's game against Ipswich Town on November 24, Sunday.
