Ajax earmark Erik ten Hag as their top managerial target for the summer
Ajax are keen on bringing back Erik ten Hag, but they may struggle to convince the under-pressure Manchester United manager to make the move.
Reports from Holland suggesting that Ajax have identified Ten Hag as a top candidate to replace their current interim boss, John van’t Schip, have been confirmed by Mail Sport.
However, sources indicate that Ten Hag and his coaching team are unlikely to leave Old Trafford to return to Amsterdam this summer.
Therefore, Ajax’s chances of reappointing their former manager rely on him being sacked by Manchester United.
Recently installed part-owners of United, INEOS, will decide on Ten Hag’s future at the end of the season.
There is increasing uncertainty surrounding his position following a largely disappointing season.
However, Ten Hag still has the chance to win a trophy, as his team faces arch-rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25th.
A decision regarding his job is not expected until after the Wembley showdown.
The Ajax board is willing to wait and see how Ten Hag’s future unfolds before making a decision, with Graham Potter, former Chelsea head coach, and Francesco Farioli, Nice boss, also among the preferred candidates.
However, even if Ten Hag were to lose his job, there is an understanding that he might prefer to pursue opportunities in one of Europe’s stronger leagues rather than return to the Netherlands.
Since Ten Hag’s departure in 2022, Ajax, once transformed into one of the most exciting teams in European football, has struggled.
The iconic Dutch club is currently fifth in the Eredivisie, 35 points behind leaders PSV. They finished third last season, failing to qualify for the Champions League, trailing champions Feyenoord by 13 points.
Furthermore, Ajax’s current transitional phase is unlikely to attract Ten Hag. Additionally, there are internal concerns at Ajax about the potential implications of Ten Hag’s reappointment for their transfer activities.
This is due to his association with the prominent Holland-based player management agency, SEG, which has been involved in numerous deals with Manchester United since Ten Hag’s appointment before last season.
The direction of Ajax’s managerial search has become unclear following the suspension of chief executive Alex Kroes due to allegations of insider trading.
However, Kroes was reinstated at Ajax last week in a revised role as technical director, and he is reportedly among those eager to reappoint Ten Hag this summer.
Interestingly, Kroes is childhood friends with Kees Vos, a prominent Dutch agent who represents Ten Hag. In fact, Kroes and Vos established the talent agency SEG together in 2000.
Ajax earmark Erik ten Hag as their top managerial target for the summer
