Erik ten Hag holds talks with club director about potential return

Manchester United fans have been keeping a close eye on Erik ten Hag since his departure from Old Trafford, where his tenure ended amid mixed results.

The Dutch manager’s brief stint with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga proved disastrous, leaving him at home in Twente for the past few months.

Meanwhile, Ajax have been struggling to regain form, suffering a heavy 0-3 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League that has left players and supporters alike in shock.

The club’s technical director, Alex Kroes, now faces mounting pressure to stabilise a team that seems to have lost direction.

With an international break approaching and a tough away match against FC Utrecht looming, the sense of urgency at the Johan Cruijff Arena is palpable.

The crisis appears to have prompted a dramatic move behind the scenes.

According to Eindhovens Dagblad, Kroes met with Erik ten Hag in his hometown of Huizen just two days before the Galatasaray defeat, initially for what was described as “just a coffee meeting that had been planned for some time.”

While Ten Hag was not approached at that point to replace John Heitinga, Wednesday night’s humiliation made it clear that only a manager of his calibre could halt Ajax’s decline.

Heitinga’s attempts to secure a Champions League result failed despite last-minute lineup changes, leaving players walking past the remaining home crowd with downcast eyes.

AFCA, the supporters’ club, issued a blunt statement immediately after the match: “It’s time for a new coach with experience!” and added, “This football will bring tears to your eyes.”

Even captain Davy Klaassen, following the example of Remko Pasveer and Steven Berghuis, failed to publicly back Heitinga, noting there was still “little foundation” and “little development” after the game.

For Kroes, Erik ten Hag now represents the only feasible option to stabilise the club, and without his agreement, the technical director’s position could also be at risk.

Last summer, Kroes had previously held talks with Ten Hag, who soon after chose Bayer Leverkusen, a move that ended in failure.

Six months later, Ajax hope the Twente native feels a sense of unfinished business and sees the Amsterdam club as a better challenge than struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers who the Dutchman has been linked with.