Erik ten Hag to manage in a testimonial match at former club FC Utrecht | OneFootball

Under fire Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will return to the Netherlands during the international break to manage in a testimonial match.

The 54 year old had a successful first season at Old Trafford, finishing third in the table, but an eighth place finish last term left many fans deeply unimpressed.

Despite this, he somehow survived an internal review by Ineos in the summer after winning the FA Cup last May.

Nonetheless another poor start to the season has continued to heap pressure on him and supporters were livid after a 0-3 capitulation at home to arch-rivals Liverpool.

Ten Hag has further alienated himself from fans with scarcely believable excuses like his side have been the second best team in England after Manchester City, factoring in trophy wins and not style of play or league places.

The Dutchman will escape the glare of the British media for a short while however as he returns to one of his former clubs FC Utrecht to manage in a testimonial match.

The Mirror report that he has agreed “to take charge of a team of former Utrecht players for a testimonial for the club’s veteran defender Mark van der Maarel on Sunday.”

“The game, to mark Van der Maarel’s 17-year spell with the Eredivisie club, will be against the current Utrecht team.”

Ten Hag was personally asked by the veteran to perform the role and was given permission by United to take part in the match.

The Dutchman was Van der Maarel’s manager for two years between 2015 and 2017 before taking the reins at Ajax.

Ten Hag managed Utrecht for 111 games and finished with a win percentage of 50%.

The United manager’s ties to the Domstedelingen go beyond that as a coach as he also played one season for them in the 1995-1996 season, representing them 30 times and scoring two goals for them before moving to FC Twente.

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