Erik ten Hag has emerged as a potential candidate to replace John Heitinga as Ajax manager, if the Eredivisie giants decide to make a change in the dugout.
Although Erik ten Hag only arrived at Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, to replace Xavi Alonso, the former Manchester United manager was sacked by the Bundesliga club after less than 10 weeks in charge.
Currently unemployed, Ten Hag has been linked with multiple jobs, but it remains to be seen if he will jump straight back into management or take a break from the game.
Several reports suggested Ten Hag was a target for Premier League strugglers Wolves, but nothing has materialised on that front.
Ten Hag is not the only former United manager to get the sack this season. Jose Mourinho was dismissed by Fenerbahce, while fellow Turkish club Besiktas sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim, had a slow start to the 2025/26 season, although United are currently on a four-match unbeaten run.
Ajax director holds talks with Erik ten Hag
Former Everton and Fulham defender John Heitinga was appointed Ajax manager at the beginning of the season, but his initial period in charge has been disappointing, with the team underperforming both domestically and in Europe.
Ajax are positioned fourth in the Eredivisie after picking up 20 points from the first 11 matches. That is eight points fewer than Feyenoord and PSV at the top of the table.
Heitinga suffered another blow on Wednesday night as Galatasaray beat Ajax 3-0
According to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Ajax director Alex Kroes spoke with Ten Hag earlier this week.
The meeting took place in Ten Hag’s hometown of Huizen and the newspaper explains it was “merely a coffee meeting that had been planned for some time.”
Kroes, according to the report, knows what he has to do to turn things around at Ajax. That includes hiring Ten Hag as Heitinga’s successor to halt the club’s decline.
It is unknown whether Ten Hag is interested in a return to Ajax after being sacked by Bayer Leverkusen and United.
It should be noted that United’s results worsened after Ten Hag left the club, but the Red Devils are on a journey that involved making lots of changes. Amorim could make it five games unbeaten when his side takes on Tottenham this weekend.
Erik ten Hag could form reunion with Wout Weghorst
Wout Weghorst joined Ajax in 2024 from Burnley following loan spells at Besiktas, United and Hoffenheim.
Ten Hag, who signed Weghorst on loan at United, could reunite with the 33-year-old striker if he returns to Ajax as manager.
United fans won’t remember Weghorst too fondly because he never scored in the Premier League. The Netherlands international scored twice during his time at Old Trafford – one goal in the Carabao Cup and one goal in the Europa League.
The highlight of Weghorst’s time at United came when the Red Devils lifted the Carabao Cup in 2023 to end a six-year trophy drought.
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