Erik ten Hag, recently dismissed as manager of Manchester United, is being considered for a swift return to management with Feyenoord. The Dutch side is on the hunt for a new head coach after parting ways with Brian Priske, who struggled to meet expectations following his appointment as Arne Slot’s successor. The club’s board of commissioners has suggested that Ten Hag should be approached for the job.
Priske’s dismissal came despite leading Feyenoord into the knockout stages of the Champions League. However, Dennis te Kloese, Feyenoord’s general and technical director, cited a lack of “structural progress” as the reason for the change. Feyenoord is currently in 5th place in the Eredivisie, trailing league leaders Ajax by a significant margin.
Ten Hag, who previously managed Ajax from 2018 to 2022, is among the candidates being considered by Feyenoord. During his tenure with Ajax, he won three Eredivisie titles. However, his time at Manchester United was less successful. Despite winning the EFL Cup and FA Cup, Ten Hag was sacked in October 2024 after a disappointing start to the season. Manchester United was in 13th position in the Premier League when he was dismissed.
The potential move to Feyenoord would mark a “shock return” to Holland for Ten Hag. It would also be a controversial move, given Feyenoord’s status as arch-rivals of Ajax, where Ten Hag is still highly regarded. Some reports suggest that Ten Hag himself may not be inclined to accept the position due to his strong connection with Ajax and the fact that a move to Feyenoord would be seen as a step down from Manchester United. ESPN has called the possibility of Ten Hag joining Feyenoord “a less realistic suggestion”.
Since his dismissal from Manchester United, Ten Hag has been linked with several positions, including Borussia Dortmund. However, he was reportedly waiting until the summer to make his next career move. Despite a disappointing tenure at Manchester United, the club’s board of commissioners is pushing for Ten Hag to be approached.
Feyenoord has temporarily appointed its Under-21 coach, Pascal Bosschaart, as caretaker manager. The club is aiming to find a permanent replacement for Priske as soon as possible, with the board of commissioners suggesting that Ten Hag should at least be approached.
Rene Hake, who served as Ten Hag’s assistant at Manchester United, is also reportedly being considered for a role at Feyenoord.
Ten Hag’s Sacking at Man Utd
Ten Hag’s time at Manchester United came to an end after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Despite winning the FA Cup, the team finished eighth in the Premier League and was eliminated from the Champions League group stage. INEOS, who had chosen to extend the 55-year-old’s contract by a twelve months after conducting a comprehensive end-of-season review over the summer, decided to pull the trigger with the team languished 13th in the Premier League. The dismissal came as a result of a 2-1 loss against West Ham.
Ruben Amorim was selected as Ten Hag’s replacement.
Feyenoord’s Perspective
Feyenoord’s decision to dismiss Brian Priske came as a surprise to some, given the team’s performance in the Champions League. However, the club’s management felt that there was a lack of progress being made, leading to the decision to make a change. The club is now looking for a manager who can build on the foundation that has been laid and lead the team to greater success. The board of commissioners believes that Ten Hag should be approached for the job.
It remains unclear whether Ten Hag will be willing to take over Feyenoord. Mikos Gouka, a journalist from Algemeen Dagblad, does not think that the Dutchman wants to return to the Eredivisie.