Current Ajax manager ten Hag is one of the most coveted names in world football despite having never managed in one of Europe’s top five leagues. However, the 51-year-old’s work at the Dutch Eredivisie side has not gone unnoticed, having made it on the global stage by reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and having won the league and cup twice in four seasons, with one of the seasons being curtailed early whilst Ajax were at the top of the table, meaning that they weren’t given the chance to win the division.
So far this season, Ajax are top of the Dutch top-flight and look like favourites once again to retain their crown, as they have 30 points from 13 matches, level with PSV, but their goal difference stands at 40, having scored 42 and conceded on just two occasions. The four-time Champions League winners have also taken Group C by storm, winning all four matches, including the 4-0 hammering of Borussia Dortmund at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Something that would be a key factor in United fans wanting the Dutchman, is the fact that Ajax play attractive and cohesive football, whilst developing academy players and younger signings, such as Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek, Hakim Ziyech and Matthijs De Ligt, what is important for the Old Trafford fan base, is that they have a manager that embodies the United way of playing and the philosophies of the club that have gone before them, hence why ten Hag is highly regarded.
Prior to his time at Ajax, ten Hag impressed at Go Ahead Eagles under Mark Overmars who he now works with, having a 46% win rate, before going to Bayern Munich II where he also had a good win rate of 67% win percentage. Before joining Ajax ten Hag was at Utrecht for which he played a season for between 1995 and 1996, he rejoined his old club in May 2015, staying there until December 2017, winning 56 of his 111 games in charge.