Understandably, the questions being asked following Erik ten Hag’s sacking revolve around what, or more importantly who, comes next for Manchester United. However, it’s also worth pondering what comes next for Ten Hag.
The Dutch manager’s reputation took a significant hit following a largely disappointing spell at Old Trafford. Despite a bright start to his reign, he quickly succumbed to the post-Alex Ferguson curse, with his eventual dismissal having seemed inevitable for months.
After being torn apart by the media and former professionals for well over a year, Ten Hag will likely want to take some time away from the game. A sun lounger and a pina colada in southern Spain sounds much more appetising than thrusting yourself back into the firing line.
Here are the clubs Ten Hag could join when he decides to return to management – ranked.
Hear us out.
Is Ten Hag good enough to be Bayern Munich manager? Almost certainly not. Did the Bavarians just appoint a new head coach last summer? Yes, they did.
However, Ten Hag has worked for Bayern before, managing their second team and achieving great success in Munich. He was also one of the names reportedly considered to replace Thomas Tuchel last season before they appointed former Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.
Bayern will not be desperate to appoint the 54-year-old but in a timeline where Kompany is dismissed and Ten Hag remains available, it’s conceivable that Die Roten would consider their former employee.
Again, hear us out.
West Ham United were the side that stuck the final nail in Ten Hag’s coffin at Man Utd, with their 2-1 victory over the Red Devils resulting in the Dutchman’s sacking. But the Hammers have made an underwhelming start to the Julen Lopetegui era and the Spaniard is among the managers leading the sack race in the Premier League betting odds.
But why would West Ham want to appoint Ten Hag? Well, the Irons may be tempted by the Dutchman’s experience, boasting a squad that would be well-suited to his needs.
Another alternate reality, but you can’t say it’s beyond the realms of possibility.
A manager’s dream is to coach their home nation. Ronald Koeman is currently living that dream as he continues his tenure as the Netherlands boss but the fiery former Barcelona manager is not immune from the chop despite a positive Euro 2024.
The likes of Frank de Boer, Louis van Gaal and Dick Advocaat have held the position in recent years and Ten Hag’s record and status would not be out of keeping with several of those names.
Taking the Dutch national team job would certainly not ease Ten Hag’s stress levels given the scrutiny applied to Oranje coaches, but it would likely be a chance he would jump at in the future.
Edin Terzic’s dismissal was viewed as harsh by some. Despite helping Borussia Dortmund reach last season’s Champions League final, the German was replaced with the inexperienced former BVB player Nuri Sahin, but the start of his reign has been far from straightforward.
Dortmund have already fallen to defeats to Augsburg and Union Berlin, while also conceding five in notable losses to Stuttgart and Real Madrid. The club’s defensive record has been poor and there are already reports suggesting that Dortmund are eager to offload the 36-year-old.
If they do so, they will need a swift replacement, and Ten Hag will be one of the few experienced coaches on the market who has taken charge of a big club. Even as a short-term appointment, BVB could potentially turn to the former Ajax coach.
Wolfsburg endured a torrid 2023/24 campaign in the Bundesliga, with former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl taking over from Niko Kovac last March. Results didn’t notably improve and the German side have made a disappointing start to 2024/25.
The 2008/09 Bundesliga champions could pull the trigger on Hasenhuttl in the near future and Ten Hag’s experience in German football would make him an appealing candidate for Die Wolfe.
Rebuilding his reputation at a club not expected to pull up trees could offer Ten Hag a relatively pressure-free route back into management, allowing him the chance to swiftly improve a club’s performances and build confidence.
The most obvious destination for Ten Hag is a return home. He forged his reputation with Ajax, winning three Eredivisie titles and guiding the Amsterdam side to the Champions League semi-final. An impressive and youthful Ajax team came within inches of reaching the showpiece event.
Ten Hag spent four years with Ajax and could aid the club during a difficult period. The Dutch outfit finished fifth in the Eredivisie last season and were knocked out of the KNVB Cup by an amateur side.
Francesco Farioli is currently in charge of the Dutch giants after being appointed ahead of the 2024/25 season but the pressure will quickly mount if results start to go awry – especially with Ten Hag waiting on standby.
A return to Amsterdam would be the perfect confidence booster for Ten Hag.
