Former Manchester United and Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has named the standout player that he has ever coached in his managerial career so far.
Erik ten Hag succeeded Red Devils legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the Old Trafford dugout in 2022 after he left Ajax to become Manchester United manager.
The 56-year-old Dutchman led United to both the FA Cup and the League Cup during his Old Trafford reign before he was sacked by the club in 2024.
Ten Hag endured a tough start to the 2024-25 Premier League campaign and Ineos made the decision to replace the former Ajax boss with Ruben Amorim.
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Former Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag raves about former Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong was a key part of the famed Erik ten Hag-led Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 before being knocked out by Tottenham.
The 29-year-old Dutch midfielder’s stunning success at Ajax saw La Liga outfit Barcelona sign him for an initial £65m transfer fee in 2019.
Manchester United were heavily linked with Frenkie de Jong in the past and the Red Devils tried to bring him to Old Trafford while Erik ten Hag was in charge.
Speaking on the YouTube channel SEG Stories, Ten Hag admitted that Netherlands and Barcelona midfielder De Jong was the best player he managed in his career.
“That’s a tough question,” he said.
“I’ve coached a few very good ones. But Frenkie de Jong… he has that special quality where it always feels like he has more time than everyone else. That’s a very rare gift.
“There are many others too, plenty of great players, so I don’t want to do anyone a disservice. But Frenkie…”
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Erik ten Hag on what former Man Utd target Frenkie de Jong brought to the table at Ajax
United reportedly agreed a £63.5m deal to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona in 2022, but the move failed to materialise in Ten Hag’s reign at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag admitted that De Jong’s qualities as a midfielder showed through how opposition teams had difficulty pressing against them when he was on the pitch.
“Yes, because it’s very difficult to press a team that has Frenkie de Jong in it,” he said.
Ten Hag added: “Because he always finds a way to create space for himself. He constantly opens up the game and gets the team playing football.”
De Jong has been with Barcelona since 2019 and the former Ajax star has lifted three La Liga titles and two Copa del Reys with the Spanish side.
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