Erik ten Hag was dismissed by Manchester United in October 2024 and is currently without a managerial position. It wouldn't be a huge surprise to see the Dutchman return to his native land in the not-so-distant future...
There is a clip on YouTube of a 13-year-old Erik ten Hag talking to Johan Cruyff that reveals much about who the future Manchester United manager was, and who he would become.
The Dutch legend is surrounded by teenagers on a television programme and the discussion centres on whether a coach should differentiate between young players and established stars. Over to Ten Hag.
“I think you should watch out that you don’t yell at the youth too much because you can break a player like that.
“But on a higher level, such as the first team of Ajax you should be able to say something about it. Those guys train almost every day of the week. If they keep making the same mistakes, you should be able to confront them.”
It is a remarkably mature and considered response that clearly impresses Cruyff, a man not easily swayed.
Twelve months earlier, Ten Hag had joined Twente’s academy, aspiring to one day turn pro as a centre-back. But it was not a footballer-in-the-making talking to his idol in that studio in such a thoughtful manner. It was a man. A coach.
How Much Is Erik ten Hag Worth?
It’s pertinent when assessing Erik ten Hag’s net worth to point out that his family are extremely wealthy, his father founding a real estate business in the late Sixties that is now one of the biggest in Holland.
Indeed, had Ten Hag joined the family firm instead of pursuing his football dreams he could even be richer today than he actually is.
Instead, his brothers Michel and Rico run the company, Michel becoming chairman on his father’s retirement. Ten Hag Assurantie Adviseurs BV employs hundreds of staff and is said to be worth a fortune.
As is Ten Hag the coach, bringing in £9m a year at Manchester United, a figure that makes him the third highest paid manager in the Premier League.
There are however reports that his salary has dropped to £6.7m this season in light of United failing to secure Champions League football.
This is more in line with what he earned at Ajax and all told Ten Hag – who lives in a Cheshire mansion with his wife Bianca and three children but retains property in the Netherlands – has a personal net worth estimated to be £35m.
Playing Career
Born on February 2nd, 1970, Erik ten Hag’s weekends as a child were split between the church and the football pitches.
With his parents, Hennie and Joke, being devout Catholics, he was an altar boy, though not a very good one, told off regularly for playing around.
Once mass was concluded he would turn out for SV Bonboys, his local side that regularly won their respective league and it was while playing for them, in the town of Haaksbergen, close to the German border, that he was spotted by a scout who arranged a trial with Twente.
At the home of the 2010 Eredivisie champions, Ten Hag progressed through the ranks, going on to make his first team debut in 1989 but a little over a year later he was off, to De Graafschap, a club that resided in the second tier.
By all accounts it was a switch that was Ten Hag’s decision, believing he could get more starting opportunities at that level.
Which he did, and furthermore his two years with the ‘Super Farmers’ were a success, as he helped them secure promotion to the top-flight.
From there it was back to Twente but history repeated itself a couple of seasons in, the player growing increasingly frustrated at a lack of game-time. Moves to RKC Waalwijk and Utrecht followed before yet again the lure of home saw him return to ‘The Tukkers’ a final time.
Now an established Eredivisie performer, he became a mainstay at Twente, making 162 appearances before retiring at the age of 32.
Coaching Career
For nigh-on a full decade post-retirement Ten Hag admirably learned the managerial ropes.
He coached the U17 team at Twente. He guided the U19s to relative success. In 2006 he became assistant coach to Steve McClaren. Later he moved to PSV to work under the respected tactician Fred Rutten.
Finally in 2012, Ten Hag became the main man, a persuasive interview with Go Ahead Eagles shareholder Marc Overmars convincing the former Arsenal winger to take a chance on him.
In a promotion-winning campaign with the Deventer club we first saw evidence of the front-foot pressing and possession-based fare that Ten Hag has become known for and here it proved immensely successful.
Reportedly the club were hugely disappointed when he upped sticks and left just a year in.
But how could he turn down the opportunity to coach Bayern Munich II, a reserve side who are massive in their own right?
Even FC Hollywood’s second string are perennial favourites in the sports betting even if they do compete at a lower level. This was a step up for Ten Hag that he couldn’t refuse.
Moreover, it afforded him the chance to work under Pep Guardiola, the pair crossing paths regularly as the Catalan Grandmaster guided the first team to yet more Bundesliga titles.
Ten Hag’s time in Germany was formative, honing his footballing philosophies and teaching him how to deal with pressure and expectation.
All of which he took with him to Utrecht but it was at Ajax where his name first appeared on the global radar. In his five years in Amsterdam, Ten Hag guided a wonderful side to three league titles as well as a Champions League semi-final.
After years of relative under-achievement this great club were great once more.
Yet, for all the trophies, what most grabbed the attention in Holland was the fashion in which Ajax played. They were swashbuckling. Fearless. Most of all, they were exciting.
Erik ten Hag could now essentially choose whatever gig he wanted next.
