Guus Hiddink believes that fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag made a big misstep over one key decision during his time as Manchester United manager.
Erik ten Hag’s reign at Old Trafford came to an end in the 2024-25 Premier League season after a woeful start to the campaign.
The 54-year-old former Manchester United manager was sacked in late October after a 2-1 Premier League defeat to West Ham at the London Stadium.
United were 14th in the Premier League at the time of Ten Hag’s dismissal, with the former Ajax boss winning only three matches in nine league matches this season.
Ten Hag had inked a contract extension with United in the summer after Ineos completed its end-of-season review, with the Dutchman’s services retained.
The ex-United and Ajax boss first arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 and Ten Hag lifted a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup during his time at United.
Hiddink on Ten Hag’s Man Utd mistake
Speaking to Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, Guus Hiddink suggested that Erik ten Hag had too “many confidants” around him at Old Trafford.
Former Ajax assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag was part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff at Manchester United alongside Steve McClaren.
Ten Hag later saw a shake-up to his United coaching staff in the summer, with fellow Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy becoming assistant manager under him.
“Everyone does it in their own way, but I was surprised at how many confidants Erik gathered around him,” Hiddink said.
“Then you end up on an island, which makes it more difficult to integrate into the culture of your new club and is watched with suspicion.
“I always took one assistant abroad with me, with whom I could map out things in the field of football.
“I therefore opted for local trainers and supervisors. People who knew the club or the country well.
“You play a role in how you are judged. Sometimes approach it with a wink. I mean, we are talking about football, not about war and peace.”
Van Nistelrooy on Man Utd exit
Ruud van Nistelrooy took over as United interim manager after Ten Hag was axed and led the Premier League club until Ruben Amorim’s arrival in November.
The 48-year-old United legend won three matches and picked up one draw during his four-match interim managerial spell at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim opted not to retain Van Nistelrooy for his coaching staff and the Dutchman made his exit from the Premier League last month.
Van Nistelrooy, who is now the Leicester City manager, admitted that it “hurt” him to leave Old Trafford after returning to the Red Devils in the summer.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, he said: “I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt that I had to leave.
“The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans.
“But in the end, I got my head ‘round it because I also understand the new manager.”
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