Manchester United contract talks with Ten Hag will reportedly involve debates on the Dutchman’s involvement in transfers and his coaching staff according to ESPN sources. Ten Hag, Age 54 was signed into Manchester United from Ajax in 2022 with contract duration until 2025.
During the discussions about his contract prolongation, there are two critical questions regarding Ten Hag. These questions are bothered around his role in transfers and the organizational position of assistants.
Ten Hag Transfer Influence and Recruitment Restructuring
Ten Hag on his arrival to Manchester United from Ajax, signed clauses, including a plus-one option until 2026. It is understood, the clause gave him a say in the recruitment of players or letting go of existing ones. Nonetheless, the club’s new owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and his group at Ineos, coupled with Sir Dave Brailsford, are much willing to delegate the responsibility in recruitment to a set of professionals. These professionals include the newly appointed sporting director Dan Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox, chief scout Steve Brown, and the director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves. However, this structure will limit his role as players would be signed mostly by the recruitment team.
During Manchester United’s review, it was learned that recruitment work has been done. Meanwhile, it was understood that Wilcox and Brown have been conducting this in the absence of Ashworth. After the announcement of Ten Hag as manager next season, he’s expected to be debriefed on the ongoing recruitment exercise.
Ten Hag Coaching Staff Considerations
Also, further debates will occur regarding the speculated identity of Ten Hag’s backroom team with specific reference to Striker coach Benni McCarthy. McCarthy joined Ajax after being appointed by Ten Hag in 2022 but his contract elapsed this year and there has been no communication regarding a renewal. Although Ten Hag wants McCarthy to remain, insiders reveal that the much-admired Sir Dave Brailsford is open to the strategy of hiring an outsider to work alongside Mitchell Van Der Gaag and Steve McClaren.
The justification for an external coaching appointment is the possibility of a quick development of the so-called “club-led game model” rather than the model which is based on the manager’s preferences.
Ten Hag Career Profile
Erik ten Hag, born on 2 February 1970, is an accomplished Dutch professional football manager and retired footballer. Currently, he is the manager of Manchester United, a premier league football club.
Ten Hag’s began his career as a center-back with Twente in the Eredivisie. He has played for several clubs, including De Graafschap, RKC Waalwijk, and Utrecht, before retiring in 2002 at age 32. In 2012, ten Hag started his career as a manager with Go Ahead Eagles, reaching the Dutch top-tier Eredivisie within his first year. In 2014, he joined Bayern Munich II and eventually returned to the Netherlands, becoming both the sporting director and head coach at Utrecht.
He moved to Ajax in 2017, lifting three Dutch league titles, and two Dutch cups. However, his success at Ajax continued as he reached the UEFA Champions League’s semifinals in 2018-2019. Meanwhile, the same year, in 2022, ten Hag was appointed as the manager of Manchester United. Remarkably, his first two seasons at Manchester United saw him eventually winning the EFL Cup and FA Cup.
Conclusion
While the negotiations remain on, it remains clear that Manchester United is already involved in redefining the undertakings of the club. However, with the primary aim of enhancing its efficiency in recruitment and coaching in compliance with Ten Hag’s leadership. We anticipate an effective outcome due to the changes and restructuring as it aims to improve United’s style of play.
About the Author
Edmund Jaja is a sports enthusiast, Content Writer, Editor, and Storyteller from Nigeria. He has been a die-hard Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, and Manchester United fan since the Fergie era. With a background and experience in Psychology, he has the zeal, passion, and creativity to inspire through writing.
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