‘Very little understanding’: Ten Hag takes a dig at Man United hierarchy after taking new role

In a move that surprised the footballing world last week, FC Twente announced that Ten Hag would return to the club where he both started and ended his playing career. However, he is not returning to the dugout; instead, he has been appointed as the club’s new Technical Director. 

Ten Hag is scheduled to officially join the football operations on February 1, 2026. He is set to succeed the current director, Jan Streuer, who is planning to retire at the end of the 2025/26 season. Until then, Ten Hag has already begun strategic planning for the upcoming campaign.

During his unveiling press conference this week, the 55-year-old addressed his difficult recent past. Ten Hag has faced a challenging period in his coaching career, having been dismissed by Man United in October 2024. 

His subsequent stint at Bayer Leverkusen lasted only 3 matches before he was sacked in September 2025. Despite these setbacks, Ten Hag remained defiant about his methods. He insisted that his developmental strategies have consistently brought success to the clubs he has managed. Furthermore, he took a sharp aim at the modern club ownership model.

"I was dismissed without having the chance to prove my approach works," Ten Hag stated. "If you look at my resume, it's always been pretty good. The way I work has always led to success. However, it is becoming increasingly extreme. You see more and more owners joining clubs who want to make their mark, but they generally have very little understanding of the subject matter. Technical directors also often make opportunistic decisions when results are disappointing."

These provocative comments come at a time of immense instability for European managers. In just the past week, several high-profile coaches have lost their jobs. Most notably, Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim after only 14 months in charge. Similarly, Enzo Maresca was removed from Chelsea, and Real Madrid recently dismissed Xabi Alonso despite his reputation as a top-tier manager.

Given the bitter nature of his departures from Manchester United and Leverkusen, many fans believe Ten Hag’s remarks were a direct critique of the leadership at his former clubs. 

During his two-season tenure at Old Trafford from 2022 to 2024, United struggled for consistency in the Premier League and Champions League. Nevertheless, the former Ajax boss managed to secure two major trophies: the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.