Erik ten Hag in profile as Man Utd 'open talks' with Ajax boss
Erik ten Hag is currently the frontrunner in the race to become Manchester United’s next permanent manager. The Ajax boss has done well during his time in Amsterdam and impressed Red Devils figures John Murtough, Darren Fletcher and Ralf Rangnick. However, the struggles of Peter Bosz and Frank de Boer since leaving the Amsterdam outfit serve as a warning to the fallen Premier League giants.
Erik ten Hag is in pole position to land Manchester United job (Image: GETTY)
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The 58-year-old was dismissed in December 2017, with Dortmund winning just 33.33 per cent of their matches during his reign.
Bosz spent three years at Bayer Leverkusen between 2018 and 2021 but is now managing Lyon in France, having taken over last year.
He’s still trying to repair his managerial reputation following his failed stint at Dortmund and whether he’s successful in doing that with the Ligue 1 side remains to be seen.
Before Bosz took over at Ajax, they were managed by De Boer.
The Dutchman won 60 per cent of his 263 games, leading them to four league titles and the Johan Cruyff shield during that spell.
After leaving Ajax, however, De Boer has found other jobs in management far tougher.
He lasted just three months at Serie A giants Inter Milan, winning a mere five matches before the current Italian champions cut him loose.
And De Boer also endured a tough time at Crystal Palace, with Jose Mourinho ripping into him by branding him the ‘worst manager in Premier League history’ afterwards.
Mourinho, responding to criticism about comments he’d made about Marcus Rashford, said: “I read something, some quote from the worst manager in the history of the Premier League – Frank de Boer.
“What he was saying was not good for Marcus Rashford to have a coach like me, because the most important thing for me is to win.
“If he was coached by Frank he would lose because he lost every game.
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Erik ten Hag to Manchester United is a risk due to Peter Bosz struggles (Image: GETTY)
“I try to give the best to the kid. I have to be honest and give the credit to the people of the academy that was responsible for his formation, to Louis van Gaal [Mourinho’s predecessor] who was responsible for his first season.
“But if you go to his numbers and how many matches he played with me last season and this, I would say probably he’s in the top five players with most matches in the two seasons.”
United, by hiring Ten Hag, will be rolling the dice.
The struggles of Bosz and De Boer show that managing Ajax, compared to other teams, is a different challenge entirely.
But it’s increasingly apparent he’s in pole position to take the job and bring this managerial saga to an end.
Ten Hag was coy on United links when quizzed on the matter in midweek, meanwhile, though did admit they were a ‘great club’ and that ‘in football you never know’ what can happen.
Erik ten Hag predecessor Frank de Boer was slammed by Jose Mourinho during Manchester United spell (Image: GETTY)
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“Everyone knows each other in the industry,” he said.
“There are always talks with representatives from other clubs, that's normal. Manchester United is a great club with great fans.
“But I can only repeat myself: My full focus is completely on Ajax! We are already planning for the new season.”
He then added: “My focus is currently only on Ajax. But in football you never know.
“I don't want to rule anything out. If at some point I should decide to take the next step, I hope that people here will understand.”