10 things on Erik ten Hag | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag: 10 things on the newly appointed Bayer Leverkusen coach

Replacing Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen won’t be an easy task, after the Spaniard led the Werkself to their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2023/24, but Dutchman Erik ten Hag will have to do exactly that after signing a two-year deal at the BayArena.

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The former Bayern Munich reserves, Ajax and Manchester United coach is known for his meticulous and demanding approach, and brings a wealth of experience to his first Bundesliga role. Here are 10 insights into Ten Hag to help you get to know the Bundesliga new boy.

1. Steady playing career

Ten Hag had a modest playing career as a central defender in the Netherlands. He began at Twente in 1989, where he made his professional debut. Over a 13-year period, he played for several Dutch clubs, including De Graafschap, Waalwijk and Utrecht.

Erik ten Hag (r.) attempts to make a challenge during his playing days at Twente. (COR MULDER)

His most notable achievement came with De Graafschap, winning the second tier in 1990/91, helping them gain promotion to the Eredivisie. Ten Hag was known for his disciplined, no-nonsense defensive style rather than flair. He returned to Twente to finish his career, retiring in 2002. He was never capped at international level.

2. A mind that never rests

Ten Hag's obsession with football is almost unparalleled. So dedicated is he to the beautiful game that not even catching forty winks is enough to stop him philosophising. "When I sleep, I think about football and tactics,” he once told his close friend and former De Graafschap teammate Hans Kraay Jr.

Ten Hag has previously said his dream would be to manage Dutch side Twente someday, but he's now got an arguably bigger role at Bayer Leverkusen. (2018 Getty Images)

"When we played together, Erik's dream was to become the manager of Twente," Kraay said. "I saw already that he was tactically brilliant.” Ten Hag is yet to fulfil his dream of coaching Twente, but his obsession with football has led him to the dugout of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Ajax and Manchester United.

3. Pep talks with Guardiola

After starting his coaching career with second-tier Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, whom he led to Eredivisie promotion for the first time in 17 years, Ten Hag joined Bayern in 2013 as head coach of their reserve team, competing in Germany’s Regionalliga (fourth division).

During his two-year tenure, he focused on developing young talent and implementing a possession-based, high-pressing style aligned with the first team under Pep Guardiola, with whom he closely worked. Ten Hag led the team to a Regionalliga title in the 2013/14 season, although they missed out on promotion after play-off defeat. His time at Bayern was instrumental in shaping his tactical philosophy, exposing him to elite standards and modern football methods.

Ten Hag during his successful spell as Bayern's reserve coach. (2014 Getty Images)

4. Inspired by Dutch masters

Ten Hag has openly acknowledged several other key figures who have significantly influenced his coaching philosophy, particularly from his native Netherlands. Foremost among them is Kees Rijvers, his former coach at Twente. "The best one, the famous one, was the manager of Twente, Kees Rijvers,” Ten Hag has said. “I learnt so much from him.” The new Leverkusen tactician credits Rijvers with instilling in him a deep understanding of football, attacking play, and team spirit.

Ten Hag has also cited another former Bayern boss Louis van Gaal as an influence. Van Gaal's structured methods and emphasis on discipline resonated with Ten Hag, while another Dutchman, Rinus Michels, and his development of ‘Total Football’ – a free-flowing style of play that relies on the interchanging of playing positions during a match – has also shaped Ten Hag's approach to the beautiful game.

Louis Van Gaal is a previous Dutch coach to win the Bundesliga. (imago sportfotodienst)

5. Reinvention at Utrecht

After leaving Bayern for a dual sporting director/coaching position at Utrecht – where he spent one year as a player towards the end of his career – in 2015, Ten Hag demonstrated his ability to reinvent players. He notably transitioned Willem Janssen from an attacking midfielder to a central defender at the age 28, a move that revitalised Janssen's career and role within the team.

Erik ten Hag led Utrecht to the 2016 KNVB Cup final during his time at the club. (Dean Mouhtaropoulos)

"He taught us to be more professional, more active, more concerned about your own development and the team's development,” said Janssen. “In a way, he was a very complete manager. I’ve had many good coaches, but Ten Hag’s simply the best. I’m not alone in this – everyone at Utrecht thinks so.”

Ten Hag's keen eye for talent and his willingness to make bold decisions for the betterment of the team helped Utrecht reach the KNVB Cup final in 2016 – a game they lost to Feyenoord. He is still fondly remembered at the club to this day.

Erik ten Hag preparing for one of his meticulous training sessions during his time at Utrecht. (OLAF KRAAK)

6. Emotional resilience

During his tenure at Utrecht, Ten Hag faced personal adversity when his son was involved in a serious car accident. Despite this, he soon returned to the dugout to lead the team to UEFA Europa League qualification.

“My best memory of Erik is when I saw him at his most emotional,” recalls former player Janssen. “It was the weekend we qualified for the Europa League through the play-offs. We had lost 3-0 at AZ Alkmaar in the first leg and nobody gave us a chance. A day before the match Erik was missing and we heard he was in hospital with his son, who had been in a pretty serious traffic accident. It was uncertain whether he would be at the game. On Sunday morning he was there and he did the meeting. He said, “My son has miraculously survived this accident; now it is up to you to make a miracle too. It was very inspiring.”

Ten Hag’s ability to maintain focus and drive in the face of personal challenges speaks volumes about his character and dedication to his profession.

Ten Hag has had to deal with personal adversity, after an accident involving his son during his time at Utrecht. (Dean Mouhtaropoulos)

7. Into the limelight with Ajax

Ten Hag receieved his first big break in football coaching with the Ajax job in 2018, and quickly became a household name with fans across Europe thanks to Ajax’s remarkable 2018/19 campaign saw them reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Under his leadership, a youthful, largely homegrown core of players – including Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt – played attacking football and defeated European giants like Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the final four.

Ten Hag’s emphasis on high-pressing, quick transitions and fluid movement allowed young stars to shine alongside veterans like Dusan Tadic and Daley Blind. Ajax’s dynamic, possession-based approach stunned Europe, and helped launch their coach into the limelight. Ten Hag’s innovative coaching and faith in youth were widely praised despite their eventual exit to English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Erik Ten Hag and his young Ajax team defeated Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals. (Denis Doyle)

8. Meticulous and detail-oriented

Ten Hag is renowned for his attention to detail and strict training demands. He frequently pauses training sessions to correct minor positioning errors, ensuring that every player understands their role within the system.

During his early days at Manchester United, he and his staff were recorded chastising stars for failing to play first-touch passes with the correct power and accuracy. The video went viral, with the coaches praised by Red Devils fans for their high standards, even in simple drills.

This meticulous nature fosters a culture of precision and discipline, traits that have become hallmarks of his teams.

Ten Hag tried to instil discipline into Manchester United's team. (DARREN STAPLES)

9. Penchant for former players

Ten Hag has shown a pattern of signing players he previously coached, particularly during his Manchester United tenure. This trend began when he reunited with Lisandro Martínez and Antony, both of whom he managed at Ajax, in the summer of 2022. He also signed André Onana, his former Ajax goalkeeper, in 2023, and then De Ligt, his former Ajax captain, from Bayern last summer, prior to his Old Trafford exit. He has also shown a tendency to sign players that he previously seen in the Eredivisie, with the likes of Tyrel Malacia, Mason Mount and Wout Weghorst also joining the Red Devils during his time in Manchester.

10. Serial trophy winner

Ten Hag has established himself as a serial winner, capturing silverware at multiple clubs. At Ajax, he delivered domestic doubles and guided the Amsterdam giants to a Champions League semi-final.

Despite facing intense criticism and scrutiny at Manchester United, Ten Hag maintained his winning mentality, securing the EFL Cup and the prestigious FA Cup, where his team triumphed over a dominant Manchester City side in the 2024 final.

He also won the Regionalliga with Bayern and the KNVB Cup with Twente. Leverkusen fans will be hoping the trend continues at the BayArena.

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