Erik ten Hag was personally warned against taking charge at Manchester United by the club’s former boss Louis van Gaal – but he has demonstrated why he was right to ignore this advice.
Van Gaal – who was at the helm of the Netherlands during the World Cup before retiring from management – notably warned his fellow Dutchman against the Old Trafford role last year as he insisted he should join a “football club” instead.
Van Gaal spent two campaigns in the United dugout between 2014 and 2016, leading them back into the top four finish in his first season and then the FA Cup crown the following campaign – the club’s first piece of silverware since Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, the much-decorated Van Gaal went on public record to state his opposition to Ten Hag moving to Old Trafford, believing that it would be a backwards step for his career and hinting that he would struggle to revive their struggling fortunes – with a trophyless period of five seasons.
“I think Erik ten Hag is a great coach, he has shown that several times'', said van Gaal, as per Dutch outlet AD. "And a great coach is always good for Manchester United." However, the then-Netherlands boss then went on to criticise how United were run by those above the management.
“Manchester United is a commercial club and those are difficult choices for a coach. It is better to go to a football club. I'm not going to supervise his career and he will call me himself. But he should choose a football club, not a commercial club.”
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However, Ten Hag has proved Van Gaal wrong – winning the EFL Cup last month and in the hunt for a remarkable quadruple this campaign, despite being off the pace in the race for the Premier League title.
Former midfielder Hans Kraay, who played alongside Ten Hag at De Graafschap and is now a highly-respected broadcaster in his homeland, explained: “Erik went to United because he saw the potential and the challenge. You know what Van Gaal said to Ten Hag, don’t you? ‘Erik, it is one big mess at United, don’t go there’.”
Clemens Zwijnenberg, who became Ten Hag’s best friend when they became team-mates at the age of 13 after progressing through the youth system together at FC Twente together, added: “Erik went to United absolutely convinced he was going to bring trophies to Old Trafford. I know him, I know what he had in mind, and I also know what he has in mind for the next few years at the club.”
