ERIK TEN HAG has travelled back to his hometown after being left “ruined” by his Manchester United sacking.
The Dutchman, 54, was sacked on Monday after two-and-a-half years in the job, winning the League Cup and FA Cup with the Red Devils.
However, results this season fell below standard with the team sitting in 14th in the Premier League, and following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday club bosses decided to remove Ten Hag from his position.
After having his contract extended for a year in the summer, Ten Hag has been handed a £15million pay-off for his termination.
SunSport exclusively revealed he had left the UK on a private jet just hours after the news was announced.
The jet, a Cessna light aircraft, flew him from Manchester to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
And the ultimate destination of his 500-mile trip has now been revealed as his tranquil hometown of Oldenzaal.
The small town is home to 31,000 residents, including Ten Hag’s extended family and parents.
According to Mail Sport the former Ajax boss has been consoled by parents, Hennie and Joke, as they visited his modern three-storey five-bedroom home worth £1m.
The report adds Ten Hag and his wife, Bianca, would often return to the town where everyone cycles to escape the pressures of life as a Premier League manager.
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It is understood Bianca and their three children remained behind in Cheshire while she sorts out admin matters before they head over to the Netherlands.
According to friends and neighbours, Oldenzaal is where Ten Hag feels most comfortable, and somewhere he can walk around in relative anonymity.
Fellow Dutchman Hans Kraay Jr. has rubbished claims that Ten Hag would be happy with his payout, instead revealing he is “devastated” by the turn of events.
Kraay Jr, a former Dutch footballer turned coach and TV presenter, told Dutch outlet SoccerNews: “I understand that he is getting €17m, and then people say, ‘he will go somersaulting through Manchester’.
“No, he is completely, completely devastated, he is completely ruined.”
He added: “At the moment, you don’t think about money. That will come later.
“I also don’t have the impression that I have to call him tomorrow to ask – can you still make ends meet, can you still get the groceries? Not that, but now he’s in trouble.”
Insiders at Old Trafford have said Ten Hag was “taken aback” by the sudden decision, given he had survived Ineos reviews in both the summer and during the international break.
Ten Hag’s time at United had some extraordinary lows, such as the 7-0 thrashing by Liverpool, 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace or 4-0 loss to Brentford.
However, it also came with some extreme highs, such as the League Cup final victory over Newcastle, the 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and the FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
Man Utd chiefs named Ruud van Nistelrooy as the Interim manager while they look for a permanent successor, with the United legend overseeing a 5-2 win over Leicester in the League Cup on Wednesday.
But the Red Devils already appear to have their next manager lined up in the form of Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim.
Amorim, 39, has won the league twice with Sporting after ending their 19-year title drought.
Sporting confirmed United had agreed to trigger the £8.3m release clause in his contract, and Amorim has now all-but confirmed he will be moving to Manchester from Lisbon in the near future.
Speaking to reporters before tomorrow’s clash with Estrela Amadora, he said: “I know it’s difficult for everyone, but at the end of the game we’ll address it.
“I don’t think the president forced me to leave immediately. He’s defending the club’s rights and I’m not getting involved in that, I would never do that.
“I think that at the end of the game everyone will be very clear.
“The fans may like it or not, but everything will be settled. We’re adults and things happen sometimes.
“We really want to win this game, we really need to win. And at the end of the game we’ll address that issue.
“It’s difficult to focus on the games, but I’m managing to do so more.
“The soap opera is coming to an end, let’s say. The fact that I can’t be so clear creates a lot of difficulty for me.”
Amorim then revealed he decided not to watch Van Nistelrooy’s United beat Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup.
Instead, he watched tomorrow’s opponents plus United’s rivals Manchester City as they were dumped out of the cup competition by Tottenham.
That is because should he remain at Sporting – possibly until the international break due to a 30-day notice period – he would lead his current team against City in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Amorim, who was mentored by Jose Mourinho, added: “I knew the result, but yesterday I watched Amadora.
“I also watched Man City, although there were a lot of changes and it’s not possible to make an assessment for the Champions League game.”
Though no confirmation has come, United and Ineos chief Sir Dave Brailsford implied all the negotiations to bring Amorim in are completed.
He told fans outside Old Trafford: “It’s done,” when quizzed by supporters.
MAN UNITED started life after Erik ten Hag with a comfortable win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup.
But who shone in the 5-2 victory, and who will be hoping incoming boss Ruben Amorim wasn’t watching?
SunSport’s Katherine Walsh gives her ratings…
Altay Bayindir – 6
Although United dominated, Bayindir looked shaky when Leicester’s chances came.
He flapped with a dodgy punch which led to the away side’s 33rd minute goal. And he looked to repeat it with McAteer’s shot just before half-time.
But one excellent second half save, pushed on to the crossbar, when Steve Cooper’s side were pressing, boosts his mark up a bit.
Victor Lindelof – 6
Hasn’t got the partnership with De Ligt established yet as they both failed to deal with crosses too often from centre-back.
But wasn’t really troubled consistently in the absence of Jamie Vardy in what was his second start of the season.
Matthijs De Ligt – 7
A more physical presence at the back than in previous performances but a more potent attack could have caused much more trouble.
Kasey McAteer got the better of him a few times and he was subbed in the 71st minute for Jonny Evans.
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Looked vulnerable at left-back in moments, with Lindelof filling in at centre-back.
James Justin often had acres of space in the second half before United made it 5-2.
Diogo Dalot
Back in his beloved right-hand side and told to push into midfield but often left his defensive channel wide open.
Passed back all too often and kept Justin onside in the first half.
He assisted Garnacho’s opener though after collecting Casemiro‘s stunning lofted pass.
Played a part in Leicester’s second after the ball bounced off him to drop for Coady in another silly goal to concede for the home side.
Casemiro – 9
The star of the show. A stunning first-half showing saw Casemiro score a brace after bagging a 30-yard screamer for United’s opening goal inside 15 minutes.
He was involved in Garnacho’s goal too. Came up with a number of key defensive headers in the second-half to show class is permanent, although form might be temporary at 32 years old.
Manuel Ugarte – 6
Conceded early fouls but worked hard. Slowly but surely starting to get to grips with his United team-mates after a shaky start.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Restored United’s 3-1 lead with his first finish of the season. Played with a smile on his face, which we often haven’t seen this season.
Dummied the ball for Casemiro’s worldie and scored his second of the evening in the 57th minute after rolling it under Danny Ward before tapping it into an empty net.
Will be leaned on heavily by Van Nistelrooy to produce the goods following Ten Hag’s departure.
Marcus Rashford – 6
A quiet evening for Rashford, who needs to kick on after Ten Hag’s exit.
The winger lost the ball a lot in the first 30 minutes. Flicks didn’t come off and hauled off again in the 60th minute.
Rashford’s only played a full 90 minutes THREE times this season.
Alejandro Garnacho – 7
A goal and assist for Garnacho, who attended the Ballon d’Or on Monday.
The 20-year-old doubled United’s lead inside 27 minutes after a well worked team move and set up Casemiro’s brilliant opener.
Looked a constant threat throughout and was taken off 20 minutes from time to be saved for Sunday’s clash against Chelsea.
Joshua Zirkzee – 4
Worked hard but never looked confident on the ball and struggled to get involved in the seven-goal thriller. Never seemed to be on his toes either.
But the only consolation is that he was involved in Casemiro’s second (United’s fourth).
Trudged off after 85 minutes looking disgruntled with his tail between his legs.
Subs
Amad (60′ for Rashford) – 7
Instant impact from the bench. The youngster almost scored an overhead kick with his first touch of the evening.
Mazraoui (60′ for Martinez) – 6
Hojlund (71′ for Garnacho) – 6
Jonny Evans (71′ for De Ligt) – 6
Ethan Wheatley (85′ for Zirkzee) – N/A
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
