Erik ten Hag tipped for Ajax return as "he won't be at Man Utd for much longer"
Former Ajax striker Kenneth Perez believes it's "not a crazy idea" to imagine Erik ten Hag back at Ajax amid growing pressure on the Manchester United boss.
Ten Hag enjoyed significant success during his time in Amsterdam, winning multiple Eredivisie titles and taking his team within a minute of the Champions League final in 2019. His achievements caught the attention of United, who gave him the top job in 2022 and finished third in his maiden campaign.
Things have been tougher this term, though, with Ten Hag's team losing four from seven in the league and two from two in the Champions League. Results have brought questions over the manager's future, and Perez is thinking big as Ajax endure struggles of their own in the Netherlands.
"Imagine if Erik ten Hag were fired, would it be very crazy for Ajax to ask him back?" Perez asked on ESPN's Voetbalpraat (via Metro ). The Danish international striker had two spells at Ajax as a player, and also won the Eredivisie under Ten Hag's assistant Steve McClaren when the pair were at FC Twente.
"Manchester United is known for the fact that things can get difficult if things don’t go well," he added. Then it’s not a crazy idea, is it?"
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Journalist Willem Vissers echoed Perez's comments, saying: "I think that in the end it just won’t work, that whole project of his there. I don’t think he will be a coach there for much longer."
Can you see Erik ten Hag returning to Ajax? Have your say in the comments section
Ajax have struggled since Erik ten Hag's departure (ANP/AFP via Getty Images)United's return of nine points from seven league games represents their worst ever start in the Premier League era. Things are going even worse for Ajax, though, with the 36-time champions continuing to suffer since Ten Hag's departure.
The Amsterdam side finished third in the Eredivisie last season after stars Lisandro Martinez and Antony followed Ten Hag to Old Trafford. Manager Alfred Schreuder was sacked midway through the season, with successor John Heitinga unable to lift the team into the Champions League spots.
More players left this summer, with Jurrien Timber and Mohammed Kudus among those to move to the Premier League and captain Dusan Tadic departing for Fenerbahce. Former Sparta Rotterdam boss Maurice Steijn was appointed manager, but results have continued to suffer.
Ajax picked up just five points from their first five Eredivisie games, including a 4-0 home loss to Feyenoord which was abandoned and then resumed the following day thanks to fan unrest at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Ajax led in their sixth game, away to RKC Waalwijk, only for the game to be abandoned following a serious injury suffered by home goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen.
The remainder of the RKC game will not be played until December 6. Ajax have a number of matches on the horizon before then, including a Europa League trip to AEK Athens on Thursday.
"It would be nice for the audience if it became a spectacle again, but I don't think that is necessary," Steijn said ahead of the game in Athens."As long as we take three points with us to Amsterdam."
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