The Erik Ten Hag Ajax Tradition Resurface At Man Utd
Before arriving at Old Trafford to take charge of the biggest club in England, Erik ten Hag had previously managed Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich II, Utrecht, and Ajax.
This new opportunity presented a fresh challenge for the manager, who had mainly worked in the Eredivisie.
At the age of 52, Ten Hag became the head coach of Ajax during the 2017/18 season, leading them to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the following year.
Notably, they defeated top teams like Real Madrid and Juventus. During that same season, Ten Hag also achieved his first managerial trophies, winning the league and cup double.
After spending four and a half years at Ajax, Erik ten Hag made a switch to join United.
Following the conclusion of the 2021/22 Premier League season, Erik ten Hag was confirmed as the new manager of Manchester United in April 2022, taking over from Ralf Rangnick.
Ten Hag’s first season in the Premier League was remarkable as the team reached two domestic cup finals, winning one of them.
They also secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League by finishing third in the league, after missing out on it in the previous season.
Erik Ten Hag second season in charge
The beginning of Ten Hag’s second spell at Manchester United has been challenging, with several injuries among his senior squad members.
Manchester United finished the season eighth on the Premier League table. A supposed dreadful season ended on a high level for the Red Devils with their famous FA triumph against City at Wembley.
The Ten Hag Ajax tradition
To turn things around at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag reintroduced a tradition he had implemented during his time at Ajax – changing the atmosphere within the squad.
During an interview, Ten Hag explained how he approached the task of uplifting the gloomy mood at the club:
“The atmosphere within your squad is crucial. That’s why I decided to do something different with the team this week.”-
“What did you do?”- “We organized a gaming session all together.”- “You went to do what?”- “Gaming! Real gaming! The E-Sport way!”
Drawing from his experiences at Ajax, when Ten Hag gathered the entire squad for a gaming session.
A similar approach was implemented at Manchester United when he invited his players, staff, and their families for a barbecue event.
The purpose was to recognize and appreciate the support network of the club’s staff and players. It is reported that Ten Hag also took the time to chat with various family members, engaging with them personally.
This gesture by Ten Hag could’ve a significant impact for Manchester United this season.
